This syllabus may be periodically revised to reflect Supreme Court rulings,
class
progress and discussion. Revisions may be communicated in class
or through the course web page. All assignments are to the Stone,
Seidman, Sunstein, Tushnet case book (3d edition) and 2000 supplement.
Pages are in parenthesis. Please read the assignment prior to class,
including the corresponding pages in the supplement. You should focus
on the main cases, skim the notes, and don’t be frustrated by the many
questions posed by your casebook authors. They are attempting to
convey to you the myriad of perspectives and opinions there are on the
various issues we will be studying in the class. They are literally
forcing you to “think like a lawyer!”
Tuesday, August 22 U.S. Constitution - Hypothetical
Wednesday, August 23 Judicial Review (1-23)
A Little Civics Lesson
In the Supreme Court (Supreme Court Rules)
(Use your Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
book
which include the Supreme Court Rules - familiarize
yourself with them)
Thursday, August 24 Marbury v. Madison (24-46)
Tuesday, August 29 Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee; McCulloch v. Maryland (46-75)
Wednesday, August 30 Political Controls (76-88)
Case or Controversy? Allen v. Wright
(88-111)
Thursday, August 31 Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife; Raines v.
Byrd;
Federal Election Commission v. Akins
(111-21)
Tuesday, September 4 Holiday
Wednesday, September 5 Political Questions (121-46)
Thursday, September 6 Powers of Congress - Commerce Clause and
Federalism
United States v. Lopez (147-80)