Introduction to the U. S. legal system WP-PR-MON-IUSLS
Unit 1. INTRODUCTION TO THIS COURSE/THE U.S. LEGAL SYSTEM
Session 1: Monday, December 3. Overview and Expectations for the Course. How to Read a Case. Introduction to the U.S. Legal System.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 1 pp. 3-21.
Filarsky v. Delia
Preiser v. Rodriguez
Unit 2. THE NATURE AND SOURCES OF UNITED STATES LAW
Session 2: Tuesday, December 4. The Constitution.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 1 pp. 33-44.
United States v. Jones
Tennessee v. Garner
Session 3: Wednesday, December 5. The Common Law.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 1 pp. 44-52
Chapter 2 pp. 53-60, 91-98.
Li v. Yellow Cab
Seixas v. Woods
Thomas v. Winchester
East River Steamship v. Transamerica Delaval
Unit 3. THE DIVISION OF GOVERNMENTAL POWER
Session 4: Thursday, December 6. The Judiciary.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 3 pp. 99-123.
U.S. Const. Art. III
Republican Party of Minnesota v. White
Erie Railroad v. Tompkins
Howlett v. Rose
Session 5: Friday, December 7. Judicial Review of Constitutional Issues.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 5 pp. 143-165.
Marbury v. Madison
Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee
Harper v. Virginia State Board of Elections
Session 6: Monday, December 10. Federal Executive Power.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 6 pp. 193-205, 212-227, 248-255.
Youngstown Sheet & Tube v. Sawyer
United States v. Nixon
Harlow v. Fitzgerald
U.S. v. Curtiss-Wright Export Co.
Writing Assignment Due
Session 7: Tuesday, December 11. Administrative Law. Executive Lawmaking. Congressional Control of the Executive.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 6 pp. 228-237.
Chapter 7 pp. 265-279.
Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council
Bowsher v. Synar
INS v. Chadha
Unit 3. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW.
Session 8: Wednesday, December 12. The 1st Amendment: Free Speech.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 12 pp. 531-542
NY Times v. Sullivan
In-Class Oral Assignment.
Session 9: Thursday, December 13. The 14th Amendment.
Reading: Abernathy Chapter 10 pp. 405-411, 431-443, Chapter 11 pp. 483-496
Lochner v. New York
Roe v. Wade
Brown v. Board of Education
Session 10: Friday, December 14.
Final Exam.
The lecturer of this course is prof. Jessica Vapnek*
*Global Programs Advisor and Lecturer, The University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
Professor Vapnek may be reached at vapnekjessicas@uchastings.edu
Poziom przedmiotu
Symbol/Symbole kierunkowe efektów uczenia się
Efekty kształcenia
The expected learning outcomes for this class are:
1. Students will understand the role of the U.S. Constitution in the operation of the legal system in the U.S., including separation of powers and allocation of authority between federal and state governments.
2. Students will understand the common law system and the role of the judiciary in the United States in resolving legal disputes and creating law.
3. Students will understand the scope of authority of the legislative branch of the federal government including the checks and balances that limit Congress.
4. Students will be able to identify the power and limitations of the executive branch of the federal government, including the regulatory process exercised by federal agencies.
5. Students will understand the common law system by reading and discussing U.S. case law.
6. Students will learn the skills to apply an appropriate analytical structure to new fact situations in: (a) a written assignment, (b) an oral assignment, and (b) the final exam. Students will do this by identifying the issue(s), stating the rule(s) accurately, and explaining the reasoning necessary to resolve the legal questions presented.
Kryteria oceniania
Your final course grade will be based on the following distribution:
Writing assignment 20%
Oral assignment 20%
Class participation 10%
Final exam 50%
The assignments will be distributed to you. The final exam will be 120 minutes.
Literatura
C. Abernathy, Law in the United States: Cases and Materials 2d edition (West Academic Publishing 2016)
You may wish to use a legal dictionary in this course. Black’s Law Dictionary is recommended. A bilingual dictionary, in print or online, may also be useful.
Więcej informacji
Dodatkowe informacje (np. o kalendarzu rejestracji, prowadzących zajęcia, lokalizacji i terminach zajęć) mogą być dostępne w serwisie USOSweb: