LAWS 601 - The Constitution and National Security

Credits: 2/3

This seminar will examine the constitutional and statutory law that governs U.S. national security policy and practice. The course will examine the Constitution's allocation of national security authority, the foreign relations powers, and war powers among the three branches of the federal government. The course will focus on specific issues arising from past and ongoing counterterrorism activities including detention, surveillance, interrogation, and targeted killing. In addition, the course will examine how constitutional and statutory authority relates to the role of international law in U.S. courts and the role of courts more generally in establishing boundaries for national security policy. The course will examine court cases, executive memos, and legislative materials.

Prerequisites: Constitutional Law

Note: This course satisfies the perspectives course requirement. Students who elect to take this course for three (3) credits will write a paper that meets the writing requirement.

Basis of Grade: Final examination or optional research paper with permission of instructor

Form of Grade: Letter

Close Window