Decisions of the federal courts on such issues as school desegregation and school prayer generally reflect a national consensus. But in this conservative era, legislative efforts to limit the tradition of judicial activism, as begun by the Warren court, threaten the principles of constitutional protections and the federal system of checks and…

In an effort to foster better understanding of the crucial role of the courts in protecting all persons from legislative and executive overreaching, this report examines and evaluates the Helms-Johnston Amendment, one of many efforts Congress is making to limit the authority of federal courts in cases involving the controversial issues of…