Civil Rights Legislation

SLN #: 21330
Course Prefix: LAW-620
Course Section: 001
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Calleros
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
NOTE: This is a compressed class meeting twice each week for 4 hours per week through March 30, 2011.


This course will examine the Reconstruction-era Civil Rights Acts, particularly sections 1981, 1983, 1985, and 1988 of Title 42 of the U.S. Code, with an emphasis on sections 1981 and 1983. Section 1981 imposes liability for racial discrimination in contractual relations, and section 1983 imposes liability for deprivation of federal rights under the auspices of state authority. The latter will consume most of the semester. Although we will necessarily discuss federal constitutional and statutory rights that litigants seek to vindicate under section 1983, our study will focus on the statutory prerequisites to liability, such as the requirement that the deprivation be taken "under the color of" state law, various immunities from liability, standards for imposing liability on supervisors or governmental entities, and remedies. The class will also briefly address other civil rights issues, such as employment discrimination under Title VII and civil rights issues that may emerge during the semester.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: Numeric Grade and ONE-Time Pass Option is Available, or Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Final Exam Given: Yes
Final Exam Type: In-Class - Completely Secure
Participation Points: Prof. reserves discretion, as allowed by policies.
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.