Constitutional Law I

This course examines ways in which the United States Constitution (a) distributes power among the various units of government in the American political system, and (b) limits the exercise of those powers. The course considers two sets of structural limitations on government: the division between the Nation and the States in the federal system, and the separation of powers among the three branches (legislative, executive, and judicial) of the national government. It also considers the Civil War Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th) as limits on the states and as sources of congressional power. A major focus throughout is the proper role of the judiciary in limiting the action of other branches of government.