The book provides an overview of American legal institutions and sources of law?? and presents a guide to the interrelationships between and among those institutions and legal authorities. It discusses the defining role of the doctrine of stare decisis in the American common law system and the critical judicial review function. In addition?? American Legal Systems shows the reader how to determine and apply the relative priorities of sources of law?? all in the context of the legislative process?? agency action?? and principles o