Administrative Law
Constitutional Law
Course Description
Syllabus
Exam Questions
Electronic Democracy
Internet and the Future of Democracy
Law and the Presidency
Telecommunications Law
Syllabus: Constitutional Law
Professor: Peter M. Shane

The required texts are:
Gerald Gunther & Kathleen M. Sullivan, Constitutional Law (13th ed. 1997)
Gerald Gunther & Kathleen M. Sullivan, 1998 Supplement to COonstitutional Law 13th Edition (1998).
Peter M. Shane, Constitutional Law I Supplementary Readings. (1999).

(References to "Supp." indicate pages in the Gunther and Sullivan Supplement. References to "Supplement #" refer to sections of the Shane Supplementary Readings.)
Class Topic

1 Introduction to the modes of constitutional argument

Supplement #1
A-1 - A-15
2 The Role of the Court in policing the executive and legislative branches
Analyzing the argument of Marbury v. Madison

2-13
3 Marshall's arguments for judicial review and the alternatives

13-27
4 Early judicial confrontations with major issues of constitutional structure and the allocation of power
President and Congress in foreign affairs
Federal and state courts in the protection of constitutional rights

Supplement #2
5 Congress and states in the regulation of commerce

Supplement #3
6 Implied powers of Congress - the National Bank case

88-113
7 Slavery

Supplement #4
8 Modern doctrine on executive power: the contest over interpretive methods
Implied Presidential domestic powers?

354-365
9 Foreign affairs powers

365-371
10 Immunities from suit

Supp. 33-40
11 Executive privilege

404-413
12 Relations with Congress
Legislative vetoes

375-383
13 Nondelegation and the "line-item veto"

399-404
Supp. 26-33
14 Independent counsel

391-399
15 The evolution of modern doctrine on Congress's commercial regulatory powers
Regulating private commercial activities - the triumph of nationalism
Before the New Deal

141-142
159-185
16 The New Deal change

185-286
17 Regulating states for economic purposes - the durability of federalism

206-227
18 Federalism resurgent in the regulation of private parties?

142-159
19 Taxing and spending powers

228-249
20 Congress' enforcement of civilrights
State action and congressional regulation of private conduct

917-926
21 Regulation of state conduct
The ambiguities of Morgan v. Katzenbach

984-991
998-1004
22 Subsequent voting rights developments

991-998
1004-1021
23 Protecting free exercise of religion?

Supp. 70-77
24 Federal limits on national power to regulate the state economy
From early fumblings to a modern formulation
"Facial" discrimination against out-of-state commerce

258-271(Optional)
271-286
322-328
25 Other forms of impermissible discrimination against out-of-state commerce
Barriers to buyers and sellers

286-299
26 Burdens on transport, trade, and business entry

299-322
27 Privileges and immunities
Preemption

328-336
337-344
28 Rethinking the role of institutions inenforcing the Constitution Courts
"Ordinary" standing

27-45
29 Taxpayer standing

Supplement # 5
30 "Political questions"

45-60
31 The elected branches
War powers

371-375
Supplement #6
32 Impeachment

Supplement #7
33 Congressional power over federal jurisdiction

74-87