Course Schedule
Classes Found
SMNR: Entertainment Law
- FRI 10:30 am – 12:20 pm TNH 3.124
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
Music, film, television, digital online media, social media, streaming, radio, publishing, branding, NIL, celebrity rights of publicity and privacy, and cyber law - that's entertainment! This writing seminar provides an introduction to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry through the analysis and discussion of commonly used business models, contracts, relevant statutes, judicial opinions, and current events. An emphasis of the course will be to understand the underlying intellectual property assets and historical positions of the parties to entertainment related transactions to prepare students to use the knowledge acquired to not only fulfill the course requirements, but to actively participate in, and demonstrate leadership in, any facet of the entertainment industry as a lawyer. This seminar will also directly examine specific terms and provisions commonly included in most entertainment industry contracts as well as terms and provisions applicable to specific genres within entertainment industry. In addition, articles relating to current industry developments, recent legal decisions, and live pleadings will be regularly assigned for class analysis and discussion. Students in this writing seminar will: (a) select and engage in research on an approved topic relevant to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry; (b) submit a substantial research paper in compliance with the writing requirement; and, (c) give an oral presentation to the seminar class on their chosen topic. Questions and lively discussions of entertainment industry legal issues are welcomed and encouraged!
SMNR: Entertainment Law
- FRI 10:30 am – 12:20 pm JON 5.257
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
Music, film, television, digital online media, social media, streaming, radio, publishing, branding, celebrity rights of publicity and privacy, and cyber law - that's entertainment! This writing seminar provides an introduction to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry through the analysis and discussion of commonly used business models, contracts, relevant statutes, judicial opinions, and current events. An emphasis of the course will be to understand the underlying intellectual property assets and historical positions of the parties to entertainment related transactions to prepare students to use the knowledge acquired to not only fulfill the course requirements, but to actively participate in, and demonstrate leadership in, any facet of the entertainment industry as a lawyer. This seminar will also directly examine specific terms and provisions commonly included in most entertainment industry contracts as well as terms and provisions applicable to specific genres within entertainment industry. In addition, articles relating to current industry developments, recent legal decisions, and live pleadings will be regularly assigned for class analysis and discussion. Students in this writing seminar will: (a) select and engage in research on an approved topic relevant to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry; (b) submit a substantial research paper in compliance with the writing requirement; and, (c) give an oral presentation to the seminar class on their chosen topic. Questions and lively discussions of entertainment industry legal issues are welcomed and encouraged!
SMNR: Entertainment Law
- FRI 10:35 am – 12:33 pm TNH 3.126
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This course will be taught in person but with the option of remote participation via Zoom. Please note that this course might become online-only in the event that actual in-person attendance during the semester consistently falls below a threshold to be determined in the exercise of reasonable discretion by the instructor and the Student Affairs Office.
Music, film, television, digital online media, social media, streaming, radio, publishing, branding, celebrity rights of publicity and privacy, and cyber law - that's entertainment! This writing seminar provides an introduction to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry through the analysis and discussion of commonly used business models, contracts, relevant statutes, judicial opinions, and current events. An emphasis of the course will be to understand the underlying intellectual property assets and historical positions of the parties to entertainment related transactions to prepare students to use the knowledge acquired to not only fulfill the course requirements, but to actively participate in, and demonstrate leadership in, any facet of the entertainment industry as a lawyer. This seminar will also directly examine specific terms and provisions commonly included in most entertainment industry contracts as well as terms and provisions applicable to specific genres within entertainment industry. In addition, articles relating to current industry developments, recent legal decisions, and live pleadings will be regularly assigned for class analysis and discussion. Students in this writing seminar will: (a) select and engage in research on an approved topic relevant to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry; (b) submit a substantial research paper in compliance with the writing requirement; and, (c) give an oral presentation to the seminar class on their chosen topic. Questions and lively discussions of entertainment industry legal issues are welcomed and encouraged!
SMNR: Entertainment Law
- FRI 10:30 am – 12:20 pm TNH 3.129
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This writing seminar provides an introduction to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry through the analysis and discussion of commonly used business models and contracts, relevant statutes, judicial opinions, and current events in the U.S. and international entertainment industry - which includes film, television, digital and online media, social media, music, radio, publishing, branding, celebrity rights of publicity and privacy, and related cyber law issues. An emphasis of the course will be to understand the underlying intellectual property assets and historical positions of the parties to entertainment related transactions to prepare students to use the knowledge acquired to not only fulfill the course requirements, but to actively participate in, and demonstrate leadership in, any facet of the entertainment industry as a lawyer. This seminar will also directly examine specific terms and provisions commonly included in most entertainment industry contracts as well as terms and provisions applicable to specific genres within entertainment industry. In addition, articles relating to current industry developments, recent legal decisions, and live pleadings will be regularly assigned for class analysis and discussion. Students in this writing seminar will: (a) select and engage in research on an approved topic relevant to the legal aspects of the entertainment industry; (b) submit a substantial research paper in compliance with the writing requirement; and, (c) give an oral presentation to the seminar class on their chosen topic. Questions and lively discussions of entertainment industry legal issues are welcomed and encouraged!
SMNR: Environmental Impact of Development and Production
- WED 4:15 – 6:05 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This three credit seminar course will focus on the environmental impacts and resulting legal issues arising from the exploration, development, production and transportation of energy sources. Students will first gain a general knowledge of the environmental impacts of nation wide energy production through a survey format. Topics will include environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration and production, bio-fuels production, coal generation, nuclear, wind and solar power. The course will then transition into the development of a working knowledge of the legal and administrative structure of Texas and Federal environmental law relating to primary energy sources utilized in Texas. Included in this segment will be a focus on issues involving fuels for mobile sources and transportation and delivery of fuels as well as disposal of fuel by-products. Students will have an opportunity to utilize the Texas regulatory and legal structure to develop a solid knowledge of the basic framework of State authority and the conflicts and interplay between State and Federal law. Students will then focus on environmental impacts of specific energy development projects from Texas and the Gulf Coast to gain a practical understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in dealing with environmental consequences. Students will complete the semester by writing and presenting a seminar paper.
SMNR: Environmental Impact of Development and Production
- THU 4:15 – 6:05 pm TNH 3.114
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This three credit seminar course will focus on the environmental impacts and resulting legal issues arising from the exploration, development, production and transportation of energy sources. Students will first gain a general knowledge of the environmental impacts of nation wide energy production through a survey format. Topics will include environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration and production, bio-fuels production, coal generation, nuclear, wind and solar power. The course will then transition into the development of a working knowledge of the legal and administrative structure of Texas and Federal environmental law relating to primary energy sources utilized in Texas. Included in this segment will be a focus on issues involving fuels for mobile sources and transportation and delivery of fuels as well as disposal of fuel by-products. Students will have an opportunity to utilize the Texas regulatory and legal structure to develop a solid knowledge of the basic framework of State authority and the conflicts and interplay between State and Federal law. Students will then focus on environmental impacts of specific energy development projects from Texas and the Gulf Coast to gain a practical understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in dealing with environmental consequences. Students will complete the semester by writing and presenting a seminar paper.
SMNR: Environmental Impact of Energy Development and Production
- WED 3:55 – 5:45 pm JON 6.206
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This three credit seminar course will focus on the environmental impacts and resulting legal and international issues arising from the exploration, development, production and transportation of energy sources. Students will first gain a general knowledge of the primary energy sources and environmental impacts of national and world wide energy production through a survey format. Topics will include environmental, political and geo-political impacts of oil and gas exploration and production, bio-fuels production, coal generation, nuclear, wind and solar power. The course will then transition into the development of a working knowledge of the legal and administrative structure of Texas and Federal environmental law. We will analyze the primary energy sources utilized in Texas and specifically review the impact of the winter storm of 2021. We will also focus on issues involving fuels for mobile sources and transportation and delivery of fuels as well as disposal of fuel by-products. Students will have an opportunity to utilize the Texas regulatory and legal structure to develop a knowledge of the basic framework of State authority and the conflicts and interplay between State and Federal law. The course will then focus on various specific energy development projects, with some emphasis on Texas and the Gulf Coast, to gain a practical understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in dealing with environmental consequences of energy production and delivery. We will then delve into the myriad foriegn policy issues and conflicts involved in energy production and climate change policies. Students will complete the semester by writing and presenting a seminar paper.
SMNR: Environmental Impact of Energy Development and Production
- WED 3:55 – 5:45 pm JON 6.206
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This three credit seminar course will focus on the environmental impacts and resulting legal and international issues arising from the exploration, development, production and transportation of energy sources. Students will first gain a general knowledge of the primary energy sources and environmental impacts of national and world wide energy production through a survey format. Topics will include environmental, political and geo-political impacts of oil and gas exploration and production, bio-fuels production, coal generation, nuclear, wind and solar power. The course will then transition into the development of a working knowledge of the legal and administrative structure of Texas and Federal environmental law. We will analyze the primary energy sources utilized in Texas and specifically review the impact of the winter storm of 2021. We will also focus on issues involving fuels for mobile sources and transportation and delivery of fuels as well as disposal of fuel by-products. Students will have an opportunity to utilize the Texas regulatory and legal structure to develop a knowledge of the basic framework of State authority and the conflicts and interplay between State and Federal law. The course will then focus on various specific energy development projects, with some emphasis on Texas and the Gulf Coast, to gain a practical understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in dealing with environmental consequences of energy production and delivery. We will then delve into the myriad foriegn policy issues and conflicts involved in energy production and climate change policies. Students will complete the semester by writing and presenting a seminar paper.
SMNR: Environmental Impact of Energy Development and Production
- WED 3:45 – 5:35 pm JON 6.206
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This three credit seminar course will focus on the environmental impacts and resulting legal and international issues arising from the exploration, development, production and transportation of energy sources. Students will first gain a general knowledge of the primary energy sources and environmental impacts of national and world wide energy production through a survey format. Topics will include environmental, political and geo-political impacts of oil and gas exploration and production, bio-fuels production, coal generation, nuclear, wind and solar power. The course will then transition into the development of a working knowledge of the legal and administrative structure of Texas and Federal environmental law. We will analyze the primary energy sources utilized in Texas and specifically review the impact of the winter storm of 2021. We will also focus on issues involving fuels for mobile sources and transportation and delivery of fuels as well as disposal of fuel by-products. Students will have an opportunity to utilize the Texas regulatory and legal structure to develop a knowledge of the basic framework of State authority and the conflicts and interplay between State and Federal law. The course will then focus on various specific energy development projects, with some emphasis on Texas and the Gulf Coast, to gain a practical understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in dealing with environmental consequences of energy production and delivery. We will then delve into the myriad foriegn policy issues and conflicts involved in energy production and climate change policies. Students will complete the semester by writing and presenting a seminar paper.
SMNR: Environmental Impact of Energy Development and Production
- WED 3:45 – 5:35 pm TNH 3.127
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This three credit seminar course will focus on the environmental impacts and resulting legal issues arising from the exploration, development, production and transportation of energy sources. Students will first gain a general knowledge of the environmental impacts of nation wide energy production through a survey format. Topics will include environmental impacts of oil and gas exploration and production, bio-fuels production, coal generation, nuclear, wind and solar power. The course will then transition into the development of a working knowledge of the legal and administrative structure of Texas and Federal environmental law relating to primary energy sources utilized in Texas. Included in this segment will be a focus on issues involving fuels for mobile sources and transportation and delivery of fuels as well as disposal of fuel by-products. Students will have an opportunity to utilize the Texas regulatory and legal structure to develop a solid knowledge of the basic framework of State authority and the conflicts and interplay between State and Federal law. Students will then focus on environmental impacts of specific energy development projects from Texas and the Gulf Coast to gain a practical understanding of the legal and administrative processes involved in dealing with environmental consequences. Students will complete the semester by writing and presenting a seminar paper.
SMNR: Environmental Litigation
- MON 3:55 – 5:45 pm TNH 3.114
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar focuses on different types of environmental litigation, including: permit hearings and appeals; enforcement hearings and litigation; rule-making and appeals; citizen suits; Superfund litigation; commercial litigation involving environmental issues; and toxic tort litigation. The purpose of the course is to provide practical guidance on litigation aspects of a substantive environmental practice. The course will address procedural and administrative law issues as well as substantive issues. The course will discuss the use of expert witnesses and will touch on public policy and ethical considerations. Grading will be based primarily on a 30-page term paper on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. For the first ten weeks or so, there will be weekly reading assignments and class discussions based on that reading. From time-to-time, there will be guest speakers representing agency and public interest perspectives; in the remaining sessions, students will present their draft papers. Prior experience or class work in environmental law is helpful, but is not a prerequisite.
SMNR: Environmental Litigation
- MON 3:45 – 5:35 pm TNH 3.114
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar focuses on different types of environmental litigation, including: permit hearings and appeals; enforcement hearings and litigation; rule-making and appeals; citizen suits; Superfund litigation; commercial litigation involving environmental issues; and toxic tort litigation. The purpose of the course is to provide practical guidance on litigation aspects of a substantive environmental practice. The course will address procedural and administrative law issues as well as substantive issues. The course will discuss the use of expert witnesses and will touch on public policy and ethical considerations. Grading will be based primarily on a 30-page term paper on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. For the first ten weeks or so, there will be weekly reading assignments and class discussions, with guest speakers representing agency and public interest perspectives; in the remaining sessions, students will present their draft papers. Prior experience or class work in environmental law is helpful, but is not a prerequisite.
SMNR: Environmental Litigation
- MON 3:45 – 5:35 pm TNH 3.125
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar focuses on different types of environmental litigation, including: permit hearings and appeals; enforcement hearings and litigation; rule-making and appeals; citizen suits; Superfund litigation; commercial litigation involving environmental issues; and toxic tort litigation. The purpose of the course is to provide practical guidance on litigation aspects of a substantive environmental practice. The course will address procedural and administrative law issues as well as substantive issues. The course will discuss the use of expert witnesses and will touch on public policy and ethical considerations. Grading will be based primarily on a 30-page term paper on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. For the first ten weeks or so, there will be weekly reading assignments and class discussions, with guest speakers representing agency and public interest perspectives; in the remaining sessions, students will present their draft papers. Prior experience or class work in environmental law is helpful, but is not a prerequisite.
SMNR: Environmental Litigation
- MON 4:15 – 6:13 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Prof. keeps own waitlist
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This seminar focuses on different types of environmental litigation, including: permit hearings and appeals; enforcement hearings and litigation; rule-making and appeals; citizen suits; Superfund litigation; commercial litigation involving environmental issues; and toxic tort litigation. The purpose of the course is to provide practical guidance on litigation aspects of a substantive environmental practice. The course will address procedural and administrative law issues as well as substantive issues. The course will discuss the use of expert witnesses and will touch on public policy and ethical considerations. Grading will be based primarily on a 30-page term paper on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. For the first ten weeks or so, there will be weekly reading assignments and class discussions, with guest speakers representing agency and public interest perspectives; in the remaining sessions, students will present their draft papers. Prior experience or class work in environmental law is helpful, but is not a prerequisite.
SMNR: Environmental Litigation
- MON 3:45 – 5:35 pm TNH 3.125
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar focuses on different types of environmental litigation, including: permit hearings and appeals; enforcement hearings and litigation; rule-making and appeals; citizen suits; Superfund litigation; commercial litigation involving environmental issues; and toxic tort litigation. The purpose of the course is to provide practical guidance on litigation aspects of a substantive environmental practice. The course will address procedural and administrative law issues as well as substantive issues. The course will discuss the use of expert witnesses and will touch on public policy and ethical considerations. Grading will be based primarily on a 30-page term paper on a topic selected by the student in consultation with the instructor. For the first ten weeks or so, there will be weekly reading assignments and class discussions, with guest speakers representing agency and public interest perspectives; in the remaining sessions, students will present their draft papers. Prior experience or class work in environmental law is helpful, but is not a prerequisite.
SMNR: Equal Opportunity Law
- J. Fishkin
- MON 7:00 – 9:00 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This writing seminar will examine the efforts of the American legal system to promote equal opportunity in a variety of domains: in particular, education, housing, and employment. We will begin by asking the deceptively simple question, "What is equal opportunity"? We will examine some of the competing answers to this question that both legal scholars and political theorists have proposed and defended. Over the course of the semester, we will examine how our legal system applies different versions of the idea of equal opportunity to a series of practical policy problems, from hiring criteria to residential segregation, from school integration to affirmative action in higher education. Ultimately, our project is to understand both the power and the limits of law as a tool for promoting equal opportunity. There will be very short reading responses (less than one page) due most weeks, in addition to the final paper, which may be on any topic related to equal opportunity, whether or not in the context of education, housing, or employment.
SMNR: Equal Opportunity Law
- J. Fishkin
- THU 1:15 – 3:05 pm JON 6.206
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
- Prof. keeps own waitlist
Description
This writing seminar will examine the efforts of the American legal system to promote equal opportunity in a variety of domains: in particular, education, housing, and employment. We will begin by asking the deceptively simple question, "What is equal opportunity"? We will examine some of the competing answers to this question that both legal scholars and political theorists have proposed and defended. Over the course of the semester, we will examine how our legal system applies different versions of the idea of equal opportunity to a series of practical policy problems, from hiring criteria to residential segregation, from school integration to affirmative action in higher education. Ultimately, our project is to understand both the power and the limits of law as a tool for promoting equal opportunity. There will be very short reading responses (less than one page) due most weeks, in addition to the final paper, which may be on any topic related to equal opportunity, whether or not in the context of education, housing, or employment.
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
SMNR: Equality
- TUE 3:55 – 5:45 pm TNH 3.115
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar explore the philosophical idea of equality within the liberal tradition as applied to law. We will discuss various concepts of equality and related central debates in modern political philosophy. The discussion of the application to law will focus on non-constitutional law and in particular various private law fields. The grade will be based primarily on seminar papers written by students.
SMNR: Equality
- MON 3:45 – 5:35 pm JON 5.257
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar explore the philosophical idea of equality within the liberal tradition as applied to law. We will discuss various concepts of equality and related central debates in modern political philosophy. The discussion of the application to law will focus on non-constitutional law and in particular various private law fields. The grade will be based primarily on seminar papers written by students.
SMNR: Equality
- TUE 4:15 – 6:13 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
The seminar will be taught entirely on zoom.
This seminar explore the philosophical idea of equality within the liberal tradition as applied to law. We will discuss various concepts of equality and related central debates in modern political philosophy. The discussion of the application to law will focus on non-constitutional law and in particular various private law fields. The grade will be based primarily on seminar papers written by students.
SMNR: Evidence, Advanced
- WED 4:15 – 6:13 pm ONLINE
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This course will be taught entirely online via Zoom.
This is a seminar for students who have already taken the basic evidence class. Together we will explore several complex evidence issues in depth. Students will be responsible for picking topics for a research paper, producing an outline, submitting the paper and making a presentation to the seminar, and then submitting a final version of the paper. Students will also be assigned the job of critiquing two classmates' papers and presentations.
SMNR: Explorations in Constitutional Law & Politics Around the Globe
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
SMNR: Explorations in Constitutional Law & Politics Around the Globe
- MON, WED 3:55 – 5:45 pm TNH 3.129
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
- Short course:
- 1/17/24 — 3/4/24
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
This seminar explores some of the most important constitutional issues around the globe today. We will start with some fundamental questions of constitutional design. Most fundamental of all may be the challenge of creating a durable framework for liberal democracy in the context of nations emerging from tyranny and/or violent ethno-racial conflict. Bills of Rights guaranteeing ethnic and racial equality and the right to vote are not the only tools in the constitution framers’ toolkit. Constitution-framers also have debated and sometimes adopted direct forms of ethno-racial group representation in national legislatures, as well as federalism arrangements that give rival ethno-racial groups their “own” territorial based states or provinces. What are the pros and cons of such devices for overcoming deep conflicts – or at least turning such conflicts away from violence and into more “civilized” form of political strife? What about constitutional provisions that outlaw political parties that preach ethno-racial hatred? Not every effort to constitutionally weld together different ethno-racial groups or “nations” succeeds. The fragility of some efforts gives rise to the recurrent problem of secession. Should constitution-framers make any provision for it? And whether they do or not, how should courts address the issue when it arises – as it has in the recent past, in Canada and in parts of Europe? Here we may also examine the United States’ experience with secession in the nineteenth century. The remainder of the semester will take up a variety of cutting-edge issues in the domain of constitutional rights and their interpretation and enforcement. Here we will examine such topics as the ways different constitutional systems treat “hate speech,” the ways they address lawmakers’ efforts to outlaw various forms of public religious observance like the wearing of the veil or burka, and the ways that courts seek to enforce so-called “positive” or “social” rights like the rights to health, housing, welfare and education. Here, we will make some extensive comparisons of experience in the U.S. and elsewhere around the globe. Note: This seminar will be taught during the first half of the Spring Semester.
SMNR: Explorations in Constitutional Law & Politics Around the Globe
- MON, WED 3:45 – 5:35 pm TNH 3.116
Course Information
- Course ID:
- 397S
- Short course:
- 1/9/23 — 2/27/23
Registration Information
- Upperclass-only elective
Description
SEMINAR: EXPLORATIONS IN CONSTITUTIONAL LAW & POLITICS AROUND THE GLOBE Victor Ferreres Comella. This seminar will explore some of the most important constitutional issues around the globe today. We will start with fundamental questions of constitutional design. How should constitutions be enacted? Who should participate in the framing and ratification of the constitutional text? How difficult should it be to amend a constitution? One big challenge is the creation of a durable framework for liberal democracy in the context of nations emerging from tyranny and/or violent ethno-racial conflict. Constitution-framers have debated and sometimes adopted direct forms of ethno-racial group representation in national legislatures, as well as federalism arrangements that give rival groups their “own” territorial based states or provinces. What are the pros and cons of such devices for overcoming deep conflicts? Not every effort to constitutionally weld together different ethno-racial groups or “nations” succeeds. The fragility of some efforts gives rise to the recurrent problem of secession. Should constitution-framers make any provision for it? And whether they do or not, how should courts address the issue when it arises – as it has in the recent past, in Canada and in parts of Europe?
We will also take up a variety of cutting-edge issues in the domain of constitutional rights and their interpretation and enforcement by courts. Here we will discuss different ways of structuring the judiciary in a number of countries. We will also examine such topics as the ways constitutional systems treat “hate speech,” the ways they address lawmakers’ efforts to outlaw various forms of public religious observance like the wearing of the veil or burka, and the ways that courts seek to enforce so-called “positive” or “social” rights like the rights to health, housing, welfare and education. A further topic concerns the mechanisms democracy can use to protect itself against erosion caused by internal forces. How tolerant should democracy be towards anti-democratic groups? We will also discuss how globalization has affected the ability of national governments to pursue domestic policies for the common good. How should international organizations be structured, and how should they interact with national authorities, to better serve the interests of the people?
Note: This seminar will be taught during the first half of the Spring Semester.