Constitutional Law Fall 2001 Syllabus
Constitutional Law Syllabus
Fall 2001
Professor Akhil Reed Amar
I. SNEAK PREVIEWS: CONSTITUTIONAL LAW IN MICROCOSM
Week 1
A. Modern Doctrine.
Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
Weeks 2-3
B. The Document Itself.
BLBA xli-lvi; The Articles of Confederation (1781)
C. Interpretive Frameworks.
Amar, “Foreword: The Document and the Doctrine;” J. ELY, DEMOCRACY AND DISTRUST
D. A Classic Case Study.
BLBA xxix-xxxiv, 1-70
II. CONSTITUTIONAL STRUCTURE
A. Separation of Powers: Horizontal Checks and Balances
Weeks 4-5
1. The Judicial Power
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- a. Judicial Review. BLBA 71-103
b. Restrictions on Judicial Review- i. Political Questions, Standing, Mootness, and Justiciability. BLBA 732-35; Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486 (1969)
ii. Congressional Power to Restrict Federal Jurisdiction. BLBA 730-32
iii. Congressional Power to Define Constitutional Rights. BLBA 483-511, 535-51
- i. Political Questions, Standing, Mootness, and Justiciability. BLBA 732-35; Powell v. McCormack, 395 U.S. 486 (1969)
- a. Judicial Review. BLBA 71-103
Weeks 6-7
2. The Executive Power
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- a. The (Non)Prosecution and Pardon Powers. BLBA 621-45
b. The Appointment Power. BLBA 645-80
c. The Veto Power. BLBA 680-704
d. The Power of the Sword. BLBA 214-31, 704-24; Lincoln, First
Inaugural Address (March 4, 1861); Lincoln, Special Session Message (July 4, 1861); Lincoln, The Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863)
e. Presidential Privileges and Immunities. BLBA 724-28
f. Presidential Selection. BLBA 728-30; Bush v. Gore, 121 S.Ct. 525 (2000); Amar & Amar, “Is the Presidential Succession Law Constitutional?”
- a. The (Non)Prosecution and Pardon Powers. BLBA 621-45
Week 8
B. Federalism: Vertical Checks and Balances
1. Limiting Congressional Power. BLBA 463-83, 511-35, 551-613; United States v. Morrison, 120 S.Ct. 1740 (2000)
2. Limiting Congress. BLBA 613-14; website materials on U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton, www.conlaw.net
III. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
Week 9
A. The Bill of Rights in General.
BLBA 401-13; A. AMAR, THE BILL OF RIGHTS: CREATION AND RECONSTRUCTION
Week 10
B. Property
1. Takings Clause, Contracts Clause, Economic Rights. BLBA 104-17, 314- 51, 415-63
2. Slavery. BLBA 168-214
3. Freedom from Slavery. BLBA 351-55
Weeks 11-13
C. Equality
1. Voting Equality. B&L 3d edition, 1053-1109
2. Race Equality. BLBA 241-96, 737-68, 801-67, 876-84, 898-983
3. Sex Equality. BLBA 985-1064, 1104-19
Week 14
D. Roe Revisited: Privacy and Other Unenumerated Rights.
BLBA 1131-1297