GOVT203 - American Constitutional Law

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Academic Year 2000/2001

American Constitutional Law
GOVT 203 SP

This course is an examination of the historical development and constitutional principles of American government including inquiries into federalism, national and state powers, separation of powers, checks and balances, due process and equal protection of the laws. The primary focus will be on case law of the Supreme Court from the Marshall court to the present, supplemented by analytical readings on such issues as the proper role of the court in a constitutional federal representative republic; the types of judicial strategies available to the court and the implications of their use; the nature and effectiveness of political checks on judicial power; and the doctrinal trends that have developed over time as the court has exercised its power of judic ial review.

MAJOR READINGS

Kommers and Finn, AMERICAN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Packets of edited cases and excerpted law journal articles, selected books.

EXAMINATIONS AND ASSIGNMENTS

Three class period length examinations and a group moot court exercise with both an oral and written component.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS and/or COMMENTS

Class participation will count as a portion of the grade. Regular attendance at class is required.

Unless preregistered students attend the first class meeting or communicate directly with the instructor prior to the first class, they will be dropped from the class list. NOTE: Students must still submit a completed Drop/Add form to the Registrar's Office.

COURSE FORMAT: Lecture/Discussion

REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded

Prerequisites: NONE

SECTION 01

Instructor(s): Craig,Barbara H.

Times: ..T.T.. 10:30AM-11:50AM; Location: PAC104

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 24)

SR. major: 6 Jr. major: 4

SR. non-major: 5 Jr. non-major: 4 SO: 5 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Speaking

SECTION 02

Instructor(s): Finn,John E.

Times: .M.W... 11:00AM-12:20PM; Location: BTFDA413

Reserved Seats: (Total Limit: 30)

SR. major: 10 Jr. major: 10

SR. non-major: Jr. non-major: SO: 10 FR: X

Special Attributes:

Curricular Renewal: Reading Non-Verbal Texts, Writing

Links to Web Resources For This Course.

Last Updated on MAR-26-2001

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