The book contains an exposition of the Supreme Court's major capital punishment decisions and examines the effect of these decisions from several perspectives. In dealing with such topics as racial discrimination, plea bargaining, and defendants who elect execution, the book includes case studies that provide insight into the workings of the United States capital punishment system. Specific chapters consider other topics, including the Supreme Court's role in administering capital punishment; the penalty trial and the defendant's right to present evidence and argument there; the prosecutor's closing argument at the penalty trial and legal and psychological issues that arise when certain types of closing arguments are presented; the Supreme Court and the death-qualified jury; the implications of the modern system's tolerance of a certain degree of racial discrimination in capital sentencing; and the deterrent effect of the death penalty. Notes, cases, index