LAW7220 Constitutional Law Seminar

The goal of this course is to gain an understanding not just of individual constitutional doctrines we study, but more importantly, of the structure of the constitutional system in which those doctrines develop and operate, the forces that influence and determine constitutional meaning, the implications of particular interpretations, and the tools lawyers employ in analyzing, discussing, and arguing about these matters. Constitutional doctrine is always in flux—perhaps now more than at any time since the 1960s. It is important to consider the mechanisms through which such evolution takes place, and to consider the role that lawyers have in driving the development of constitutional meaning. The course’s focus will be both historical and doctrinal, studying how many of our most important constitutional provisions and principles have evolved over time. Pre-requisites: Constitutional Law I and II