Current Issues in US Constitutional Law

SLN #: 12756
Course Prefix: LAW-691
Course Section: 003
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor(s): Bender
Course Books: View List of Books

Course Description:
This is an advanced course that addresses current important issues in U.S. constitutional law. The topics each year will be determined by the issues that are prominent at the time the course is given. For the Spring, 2020, semester the topics might include: Constitutional issues related to the ongoing proceedings to impeach President Trump; The effect of important decisions made by the Supreme Court in its 2018 term, including the decisions that federal courts have no jurisdiction to consider the constitutionality of politically partisan gerrymandering and that a Christian Cross prominently located on government property next to a busy highway need not be removed; Important issues that will be before the Supreme Court in its 2019 term, including whether sexual-orientation discrimination is "sex" discrimination within the meaning of Title VII, whether the Obama administration's DACA program giving legal status to some undocumented immigrants can be terminated by the Trump administration, and whether strict scrutiny applies to a New York handgun regulation; and whether Chief Justice Roberts has replaced Justice Kennedy as the Court's "swing" vote.

There is no casebook for this course. Relevant case and legislative material will be accessed through the internet

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 3
Grading Option: Pass/Fail 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 Unsecure
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Additional Attendance Policy: Attendance and class participation required

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