Activism, Ideology, and Federalism: Judicial Behavior In Constitutional Challenges Before the Rehnquist Court, 1986-2000 (original) (raw)

The paper investigates the judicial behavior of the Rehnquist Court from 1986 to 2000 regarding constitutional challenges. Focusing on the concepts of activism, federalism, and ideology, it analyzes the Justices' votes to invalidate federal, state, or local laws, highlighting a shift in the typical understanding of judicial activism. The study argues that the Rehnquist Court's decisions reflect a complex interplay between federalism principles and the ideological predispositions of the justices, thereby challenging conventional wisdom about activist behavior across ideological lines.