Michael D. Ramsey

              Professor of Law, University of San Diego Law School

Constitutional Law I, Spring 2010 Course Webpage

 

COURSE OVERVIEW

 

Class Meetings:  Monday & Wednesday, 2:30 pm – 4:20 pm

 

Office Hours:    4:20 pm – 4:50 pm Monday            

2:15 pm – 4:45 pm Tuesday

4:20 pm – 4:50 pm Wednesday

2:15 pm – 4:45 pm Thursday

 

Textbook:  Geoffrey R. Stone, et al., Constitutional Law (6th edition, Aspen, 2009).

 

Note: All assignments and course discussion will be made with reference to the sixth edition of this text.  The fifth edition is not a suitable substitute.

 

Additional assignments may be made from materials available on-line.

 

  INFORMATION REGARDING COURSE SCHEDULE

 

Note:  This space will be used for announcements regarding class cancellations, make-ups, optional events of interest, and other updates regarding the course schedule.

 

It is anticipated that this course will not meet Monday, March 1, 2010.

 

CURRENT ASSIGNMENTS

 

Assignment for Monday, Feb. 8:  Reading List Part VI A, B & C (focus on the Lujan and Allen v. Wright cases)

 

Optional:  Look at the summary of argument in the Brief for Petitioner in Free Enterprise Fund v. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, No. 8-861, available at

http://www.abanet.org/publiced/preview/briefs/pdfs/07-08/08-861_Petitioner.pdf

 

Assignment for Wednesday, Feb. 3:  Reading List Part IV & V; focus on Marbury v. Madison and the role of the Supreme Court in constitutional interpretation.

 

Assignment for Monday, Feb. 1:  Finish Reading List Part III.D, E & F; answer the questions in Constitutional Law Hypothetical #2 (download below).

 

Assignment for Wednesday, Jan. 27: Begin Reading List Part III.D, E & F.  (The supplemental reading can be downloaded below).  The principal focus of class will be on the Chadha, Bowsher and Morrison cases from the prior assignment.

 

Assignment for Monday, Jan. 25:  Reading List Part II.E (carried over from last class meeting); Reading List Part III A, B, & C

 

Assignment for Wednesday, Jan. 20:

             (a)  Download and answer Constitutional Law hypo #1 (download below)

             (b)  After answering the hypothetical, read Part II.D. of the Reading List

             (c)  Read Part II.E of the Reading List, with focus on Clinton v. Jones

 

Assignment for Thursday, Jan. 14:  Reading List Part II A, B & C, with focus on Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer and Dames & Moore v. Regan.

 

Assignment for Monday, Jan. 11(first class meeting):  Download below.

 

 

COURSE DOWNLOADS

 

Syllabus

 

Part 1 Assignments (Separation of Powers Reading List)

 

Assignment for January 11, 2010 (first assignment)

 

Constitutional Law Hypothetical #1

 

Supplemental Reading #1  

 

Constitutional Law Hypothetical #2

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