"This encyclopedia fills a much-needed gap between legal texts focusing on the theory and history behind the law and more practical guides dealing with the law and its everyday effect upon its citizens. Containing approximately 200 articles, the Encyclopedia includes: brief descriptions of each issue's historical background, covering important statutes and cases; profiles of various U.S. laws and regulations; and details of how laws and regulations vary from state to state."--Publisher description.

Designed to answer such key questions as: How has the U.S. Constitution shaped the economy of the United States? What were the consequences of Prohibition on consumers behavior? This title presents 1,000 entries, era overviews, event/movement profiles, biographies, business/industry profiled, geographic profiles, and more.

Explains legal terms and concepts in everyday language, covering a wide variety of persons, entities, and events that have shaped the U.S. legal system and influenced public perceptions of it.

First published in 1988, this book contains entries on famous American Humorists. Humor has been present in American literature, from the beginning, and has developed characteristics that reflect the American character, both regional and national. Although American literature was, in the past, treated as inferior to British literature, there has always been a large popular audience for the genre, which this book shows. The figures with entries in this encyclopedia not only amuse in their writing, but also aim to enlighten- setting out to expose the foibles and foolishness of society and the individuals who compose it. It is the manner in which these authors try to accomplish this end that determines whether they appear in the volume. Indeed, the book will demonstrate that the best humor has at its base, a ready understanding of human nature.

The most comprehensive resource of its kind, the "Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce provides access to the world of Internet commerce and addresses the concerns of those who want to join the ranks of the Internet business community. The "Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce presents invaluable answers to common questions about Web site development, financing, advertising and more. The set features 470 essays covering topics and terms, profiles of dozens of the top e-commerce companies, biographies of e-commerce innovators, and coverage of events and legislation related to e-commerce. Additional features include an introductory essay; a timeline of e-commerce developments; a master bibliography; and more.

Provides current information on more than 5,000 legal topics. Includes completely revised articles covering important issues, biographies, definitions of legal terms and more. Covers such high-profile topics as the Americans with Disabilities Act, capital punishment, domestic violence, gay and lesbian rights, and physician-assisted suicide.