Authors:
- The book promotes greater civic engagement through enhanced practical skills in issue analysis and understanding of media influences, information resources, and political dynamics.
- As a comprehensive introduction to legal reasoning and decision making, the book will be of interest to professors teaching prelaw courses or otherwise counseling students who are preparing for law school.
- n increasing number of civic organizations and local government agencies are giving greater attention to voter education. The book's approach to citizens' understanding of complex public issues would be an invaluable addition to those efforts.
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Table of contents (8 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Back Matter
About this book
Reviews
"This highly engaging book introduces lay readers to legal analytical methods, and shows how these methods can help to improve their capacity to develop informed opinions. Manaster convincingly demonstrates that the methods of legal analysis, such as having standards of evidence, respect for deliberate procedure, using expertise, identifying bias, and keeping an open mind, can give individuals guidance on how best to become informed on public issues, and that knowing these methods can enable readers to become more responsible citizens." - Kevin M. Esterling, Professor of Political Science, Univeristy of California, Riverside, USA
"In this lucid and convincing case for adopting the best practices of the legal system, Manaster makes an important and original contribution to our understanding of civic engagement. He is a brilliant translator of technical legal terminology into everyday language, providing a helpful citizen's guide to thinking like a lawyer and strengthening American democracy." - Janet A. Flammang, Professor of Political Science, Santa Clara University, USA
"Manaster eloquently offers an accessible method for citizens to exercise their most important duty in a democracy – forming and voicing their opinion on public issues. He teaches citizens to 'think like a lawyer,' showing how the process of legal reasoning can be used by ordinary people to form thoughtful opinions on the complex policy issues of ourday." - Elizabeth S. Smith, Professor, Furman University, USA
"This book reminds us that law need not be seen as a conspiracy against the public, but that legal thinking and procedure can powerfully inform the practice of everyday citizenship. Drawing widely on the study of law, politics, and civic education, Manaster enriches each of these fields in accessible and insightful style." - Chad Raphael, Associate Professor of Communication, Santa Clara University, USA
"This highly engaging book introduces lay readers to legal analytical methods, and shows how these methods can help to improve their capacity to develop informed opinions. Manaster convincingly demonstrates that the methods of legal analysis, such as having standards of evidence, respect for deliberate procedure, using expertise, identifying bias, and keeping an open mind, can give individuals guidance on how best to become informed on public issues, and that knowing these methods can enable readers to become more responsible citizens." - Kevin M. Esterling, Professor of Political Science, Univeristy of California, Riverside, USA
"In this lucid and convincing case for adopting the best practices of the legal system, Manaster makes an important and original contribution to our understanding of civic engagement. He is a brilliant translator of technical legal terminology into everyday language, providing a helpful citizen's guide to thinking like a lawyer and strengthening American democracy." - Janet A. Flammang, Professor of Political Science, Santa Clara University, USA
"Manaster eloquently offers an accessible method for citizens to exercise their most important duty in a democracy – forming and voicing their opinion on public issues. He teaches citizens to 'think like a lawyer,' showing how the process of legal reasoning can be used by ordinary people to form thoughtful opinions on the complex policy issues of ourday." - Elizabeth S. Smith, Professor, Furman University, USA
"This book reminds us that law need not be seen as a conspiracy against the public, but that legal thinking and procedure can powerfully inform the practice of everyday citizenship. Drawing widely on the study of law, politics, and civic education, Manaster enriches each of these fields in accessible and insightful style." - Chad Raphael, Associate Professor of Communication, Santa Clara University, USA
About the author
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: The American Legal System and Civic Engagement
Book Subtitle: Why We All Should Think Like Lawyers
Authors: Kenneth A. Manaster
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137342331
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies Collection, Political Science and International Studies (R0)
Copyright Information: Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Nature America Inc. 2013
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-46623-8Published: 08 November 2015
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-34233-1Published: 12 September 2013
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: IX, 217
Topics: Political Communication, Political Science, Theories of Law, Philosophy of Law, Legal History, Political History, European Politics, Political Theory