Legislation

Catalog description

Almost every aspect of legal practice involves construction of statutes, whether defining the jurisdiction of the courts or establishing the norms to which society must conform. This course aims to attend to the prevalence of statutory law through examination of the legislative process and the way in which courts and agencies implement and interpret statutory enactments. We will read statutes, judicial decisions, agency constructions, leading academic commentary and historical materials with the aim of understanding practical and theoretical challenges to legal work within the age of statutes. No formal prerequisites, though Administrative Law, Federal Courts, and Constitutional Law II would all be helpful. Take-home examination and attendance are required.