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The University of Texas at Austin School of Law
  2. Course Schedule

The Law of the Intelligence Community: From Surveillance to Covert Action

  • Semester: Fall 2016
  • Course ID: 379M
  • Credit Hours: 3
  • Unique: 29060

Course Information

  • Grading Method: Pass/Fail Allowed (JD only)
  • Cross-listed with other school

Registration Information

  • Upperclass-only elective

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
MON, WED 2:15 - 3:30 pm TNH 2.124

Evaluation Method

Type Date Time Location
Final exam December 14, 2016 1:30 pm A-Z in 2.137

Description

Interested in how law regulates the activities of the CIA, the NSA, and other parts of the U.S. Intelligence Community? This is your class. No prior knowledge of the topic or these institutions is required, and students from any graduate program at UT are welcome to sign up. We will begin with an orientation to these institutions, their history, and their functions, and then we will explore the legal and policy issues they raise. Much of the course is concerned with surveillance and other forms of information collection (think NSA, Snowden, FISA, and the like). Other key topics include the law regulating "covert action," assassination, and working with "dirty assets." NOTE: In past years, most of this stuff was covered in my basic "National Security Law" class, but starting in Fall '16 we are breaking that class up into distinct parts (in the spring there will be a "counterterrorism" class, for example, co-taught by myself and our newest faculty member, Professor Steve Vladeck). Note, too, that as a result you are not eligible to take this Intelligence Community class if you have had National Security Law. Other things to note: There is no casebook for this class; all materials will be provided to you via Canvas, with an option to pick up printouts if you wish (at no cost to you). Feel free to email me (rchesney@law.utexas.edu) if you have questions.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

No materials required

Instructors

Headshot of Chesney, Robert M. Chesney, Robert M.
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Important Class Changes

Date Updated
12/05/2016 Exam information updated
Course is cross listed
Room(s) changed
Instructor(s) updated