Statutory Interpretation

Catalog description

Statutes are the dominant source of law in the United States. They govern virtually every legal field-from criminal law to corporate law to employment law-and lawyers must be able to interpret them effectively. This course develops the skills needed to do so. The course covers both the theoretical and practical sides of statutory interpretation. On the theoretical side, students will explore the major competing approaches- textualism and purposivism-for resolving conflicts between a statute's text and its apparent purposes. On the practical side, they will learn to read statutes carefully, identify ambiguities, and apply key interpretive tools, including textual analysis, canons of construction, and legislative history. Although the course focuses on statutory interpretation, these skills also apply to the interpretation of other legal texts, including constitutions, regulations, and contracts. As a result, they will be useful in many upper-level courses, on the bar exam, and in all areas of legal practice. Credit Hour : 1-3