9780307263131. New condition. Hard cover. Language: English. Pages: 161. Glued binding. Paper over boards. With dust jacket. 161 p. Justice Breyer sees the Constitution as a guide for the application of basic American principles to a living and changing society rather than an arsenal of rigid legal means for binding and restricting it. In this important book he makes clear why he thinks judges should place more emphasis on the consequences of legal decisions and less on literal readings of the law.