LAWS 861 - Special Topics in Legislative Drafting II

Credits: 3

This course will explore the process of drafting legal codes in a real world setting. Specifically, the course will give students the opportunity to participate in the creation of a legal code for the Catawba nation. Students will be introduced to the relevant areas of federal Indian law, the history, culture and legal conceptions of the Catawba Nation, and principles of drafting laws. Topics may shift from year to year. Students will use information collected during the course to draft laws to be submitted to the leadership of the Catawba Nation for adoption.

Using the skills learned in Legislative Drafting I, students will draft family code for the Catawba Nation. In order to produce these code, students will examine numerous state and tribal family law codes. They will discuss the relevant strengths and weakness of these laws with the goal of drafting a set of laws particularly suited to the history, culture and legal needs of the Catawba Nation. During the course, they will meet with leadership of the Catawba Nation and with lawyers, government officials and judges from other recognized Indian nations. Students will receive a letter grade at the end of each semester.

Prerequisites: Special Topics in Legislative Drafting I

Note: This course satisfies the experiential course graduation requirement.

Basis of Grade: The grade will be based on the student's attendance and class participation as well as the quality of the research and drafting assignments produced through the semester.

Form of Grade: Letter

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