An advanced constitutional law course focusing intently on the Constitution itself (as distinct from the case law interpreting it, sometimes quite loosely). Thus, we shall journey through the supreme law of our land, article by article and amendment by amendment, from start to finish. The basic textbook for the class will be Amar, America's Constitution: A Biography (2005). At least once each month, in response to the assigned reading and in anticipation of class discussion, every student must post on the Courseweb at least one mini-essay (between 300 and 1,500 words) and one brief response (between 50 and 500 words) to a classmate's mini-essay. At the end of the semester, each student will be expected to produce a 6,000-7,500-word paper on a particular constitutional clause (or set of clauses) of the student's choice. With the professor's permission, interested students are also welcome to do more extensive research papers that would satisfy the law school's major paper or minor paper requirements. Closed to students who took Professor Akhil Amar's spring 2008 Seminar: Reading the Constitution.
Section Offerings for 2011-12
There are no offered sections in 2011-12. Please choose a different year.