United States Constitutional Law

LAWS5196

This unit provides an in-depth introduction to the principles, core concepts, and key cases of United States Constitutional Law. It traces the structure and role of the U.S. Supreme Court, and the development of U.S. constitutional reasoning from the post-revolutionary period to the present. It considers debates about constitutional interpretation, and the significance of different approaches to key provisions of the Constitution. Topics may include all or any of: federalism and the commerce clause; eminent domain and "just compensation"; substantive due process; equal protection of the laws: race and gender discrimination; freedom of speech; freedom of religion; unenumerated rights; constitutional protection of citizenship and voting. As U.S. Constitutional law is not essentially doctrinal, students will also be introduced to, and encouraged to engage in, normative debates about constitutional values.

Unit of study details

Unit of study level: Postgraduate

Credit points: 6

Commencing semesters: 2

Further unit of study information

Unit of study handbook: LAWS5196

Costs and scholarships information: Costs and Scholarships

Final dates to withdraw from units of study: Census Dates

Available for study abroad and exchange: No

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