Civil Rights Law and History
SLN #: 28654Course Prefix: LAW-791
Course Section: 036
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Heriot
Course Books: View List of Books
Course Description:
This course will explore the legal history of civil rights from the 19th century to the present and will also cover civil rights issues that confront federal and state policymakers today, including human trafficking, hate crimes and same-sex marriage. Among the questions that will be explored will be, “What are ‘civil rights’ and how has the meaning of that term changed over time?” The Reconstruction amendments to the Constitution will be discussed with special emphasis on the Thirteenth Amendment, given that its sesquicentennial is coming up in 2015. Legislation like the New York Married Women’s Property Act of 1848, the Mississippi Black Code, the Reconstruction civil rights acts, the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Americans with Disabilities Act as well as failed efforts like the proposed Equal Rights Amendment will also be explored. Some non-legal historical reading will also be included. This course is aimed at enhancing student understanding of how foundational concepts such as "civil rights" endure and as well as evolve over time and are translated into constitutional and statutory texts, legal institutions and public policy.
This course is open only to students enrolled in the Washington, D.C. Externship Program.
Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: 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
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.