Includes: Index. (379-391)

Judges as faithful agents or independent, cooperative actors? -- The basic core of statutory interpretation : text and intent -- The place of legislative history, and purpose v. specific meanings -- What else counts, and should count, for statutory interpretation? Executive participation, subsequent legislative history, independent principles of decision, prior judicial interpretation, the passage of time, and legislative direction -- Administrative interpretation and the complications it reveals -- Some central questions about common law decisions -- Precedent : importance and context --Reasoning by analogy -- Other bases for decision : principles and consequential considerations -- comparisons and conclusions. -