Const Law II: Gender and the Constitution

Course Information

Registration Information

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
MON, TUE, WED 11:30 am - 12:20 pm TNH 3.114

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
Floating take-home exam

Description

This course looks at the intersection of gender issues with the Constitution. It is open only to 1L's who have taken Con Law I. It begins with the denial of the privilege of a woman as a citizen to practice law, to enter contracts, to own property and to vote; continues through the jurisprudence beginning in the 1970's when the Supreme Court ruled that the constitution gave women "equal" rights; and ends with today's questions concerning sexual identity such as same sex marriage and the rights of transgendered persons. We will read cases, excerpts from scholarly articles, books and contemporary news accounts EXAM: The exam will be a floating 48 hour take home exam. It will consist of 2 or 3 essay questions requiring you to address the central issues discussed in class and the readings. COMMENTS: To facilitate class discussion, you also are required to write approximately 10 "comments" on 10 different topics on the syllabus over the semester. "Comments" may include questions about and criticisms of the reading, examples of the issues covered, as well as general reflections on the content of the readings. Each comment should be approximately one single-spaced or two double-spaced pages. Comments must be submitted by e-mail and are due by 12 noon on Sunday the week before class discussion of the readings addressed. They will be graded on the basis of content, rather than writing style, or length. The grades will be either 1 or 2 and in rare instances 3. Any thoughtful effort will earn a 2; half-hearted efforts will earn a 1 and an exceptional contribution will earn a 3. Your comments and class participation will count 30 percent of your grade. You must be in class when the subject of your comment is discussed in order to receive credit. Prerequisite: Con Law I.

Instructors

Headshot of Wiseman, Zipporah B Wiseman, Zipporah B
Log In to View Course Evaluations