Const Law II: Free Speech

Semester: Fall 2025
Course ID: 381C
Credit Hours: 3
Unique: 30420

Course Information

Grading Method: Pass/Fail Not Allowed
Will use floating mean GPA if applicable

Registration Information

Upperclass-only elective
Reversed priority

Meeting Times

Day	Time	Location
MON, TUE	2:30 - 3:45 pm	TNH 2.124

Evaluation Method

Type	Date	Time	Location
Final exam (administered by Exam4 in Closed mode)	December 13, 2025	8:30 am	A-Z in 2.138

Description

This course will cover the history and the judicial interpretation of the First Amendment's free speech clause. Coverage of modern judicial interpretation will be topical rather than chronological. Subjects will include subversive advocacy, prior restraints, tort law and the First Amendment, offensive speech, symbolic dissent, freedom not to speak, the government as employer, the government's management of public property, access to the mass media, campaign finance, obscenity, and commercial speech. Readings, particularly for the historical portion of the course, will consist of secondary sources as well as legal decisions. NO PREREQUISITES.

Textbooks ( * denotes required )

Free Speech In Its Forgotten Years, 1870-1920 *

Rabban, David M.

Cambridge University Press , edition: 1
ISBN: 978-0-521-65537-8

American First Amendment In Twenty-first Century *

Vanalstyne, William W., Lash, Kurt T., Van Alstyne, William, Lash, Kurt, and Van Alstyne, William W.

West Academic , edition: 5
ISBN: 978-1-60930-437-9

Instructors