Constitutional Law

An examination of the Constitutional tradition in the United States, focusing upon the structure and powers of the federal government. Topics and themes include the power of the courts to interpret the laws and the Constitution, the power of the federal government and the significance of states' rights, federal government intervention in matters of commerce or economics, and the nature and expansion of executive power, especially in the area of national security. The course proceeds mainly through close examination of Supreme Court cases, considered in their political, historical and legal context.