Accessible to students of political science and public administration who have no legal background, this text provides the clearest and most comprehensive introduction to administrative law available. Taking a case method approach, Administrative Law and Politics uses up-to-date cases and commentary to expound on the principles of administrative law, while providing springboards for classroom debate. The text also provides an excellent balance between law and policy/politics that gives both practicing public administrators and students preparing for a career in public administration important insights into the real world politics behind the rules of administrative law.

Reason in Law examines the intersection of law and politics: legal reasoning. It teaches students how to examine judicial decisions, encouraging them to become “thoughtful judges of judging.” Using cases ripped from the headlines—such as the Alabama federal courthouse “Ten Commandments” case, Ashcroft v. Oregon, and Lawrence v. Texas—authors Carter and Burke teach through illustrative examples and have assembled a gallery of fascinating cases to engage student interest. Ultimately, the text attempts to answer the question: “How can a pluralistic society be ruled legitimately?” If people of differing political allegiances can interpret the same legal text quite differently, how can the rule of law be properly applied?