uscLong uscLogo
  Introduction Biography Curriculum Vitae Courses Blackmun Archive Contact  
        navArwDown      
Lee Epstein
trans 		Provost Professor of Law and Political Science & Rader Family Trustee Chari in Law
Biography Untitled Page

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
Law 508
Spring 2012

Unless otherwise indicated, cases listed below are in the Epstein & Walker book. We'll emphasize cases in bold and spend less time on cases in regular font.

If you are interested in reading cases discussed but not excerpted in the book, check out the Constitutional Law for a Changing America Case Archive at: http://clca.cqpress.com/. For supplemental readings on any of the cases or topics we cover, please feel free to email me at: lepstein@law.usc.edu.

Finally, the dates in parentheses following each topic are approximate. We'll try to stick to the schedule but departures may occur. At the end of each class I'll announce the readings for the next session.

Part One. Introductory Material

I. Introduction to the U.S. Constitution, the Supreme Court, and Constitutional Interpretation

A. The U.S. Constitution and Its Key Features (1/9)

B. Methods of Constitutional Interpretation (1/10)

To prepare for the first two classes, please read (1) Epstein & Walker, pp. 3-17 and 23-33 and (2) the briefs in Zivotofsky v. Clinton. The brief for the petitioner is here. Familiarize yourself with the facts (starting on p. 2), then focus on Part II (beginning on p. 34). The brief for the respondent is here; focus on the government's statement (pp. 2-12) and Part I (beginning on p. 18).

Part Two. The Distribution of Power Among the Branches of Government
(Epstein & Walker, pp. 51-57)

II. The Judiciary

A. Introduction to Judicial Power (Epstein & Walker, pp. 58-64) (1/11, 1/17)

B. Judicial Review (Epstein & Walker, pp. 64-89)—Marbury v. Madison (1803), Martin v. Hunter's Lessee (1816) (1/17-1/18)

C. Constraints on Judicial Power (Epstein & Walker, pp. 89-117) (1/23-1/25)

  1. Jurisdiction— Ex parte McCardle (1869)
  2. Justiciability
    1. Advisory Opinions
    2. Collusive Suits
    3. Mootness
    4. Ripeness
    5. Political Questions— Baker v. Carr (1962), Nixon v. United States (1993)
  3. Standing to Sue— Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife (excerpt is here)
No class on 1/16 (MLK Day)

III. The Legislature

A. Membership in Congress (Epstein & Walker, pp. 120-137)— Powell v. McCormack (1969), U.S. Term Limits v. Thornton (1995) (1/25, 1/30)

B. The Sources and Scope of Congressional Power (Epstein & Walker, pp. 143-171) (1/30-2/1, 2/6)

  1. Enumerated and Implied Powers— McCulloch v. Maryland (1819), McGrain v. Daugherty (1927), United States v. Comstock (2010) (excerpt is here) (2010), Watkins v. United States (1957), Barenblatt v. United States (1959)
  2. Inherent Powers— United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp. (1936)

IV. The Executive

A. Selection of the President (Epstein & Walker, 180-190)— Bush v. Gore (2000) (2/6)

B. Debates over Executive Power (Epstein & Walker, pp. 194-201)— In re Neagle (1890) (2/7)

C. The Domestic Powers of the President (Epstein & Walker, pp. 201-241) (2/7-2/8, 2/13-2/15)

  1. Veto Power—Clinton v. City of New York (1998)
  2. Appointment and Removal—Morrison v. Olson (1988), Myers v. United States (1926), Humphrey's Executor v. United States (1935)
  3. Executive Privilege—United States v. Nixon (1974)
  4. Presidential Immunity—Mississippi v. Johnson (1867), Nixon v. Fitzgerald (1982), Clinton v. Jones (1997)

D. Foreign Policy (Epstein and Walker, pp. 247-250)— United States v. Curtiss-Wright Export Corp. (1936) (2/15)

No class on 2/20 (Presidents' Day)

V. Separation of Powers System in Action

A. Competing Approaches (2/21)

B. Domestic Disputes (Epstein & Walker, pp. 252-272) (2/21-2/22, 2/27)

  1. The Delegation of Legislative Powers—Mistretta v. United States (1989)
  2. Congress and Executive/Judicial Powers—INS v. Chadha (1983), Bowsher v. Synar (1986)

C. War and National Emergencies (Epstein & Walker, pp. 273-320). The Prize Cases (1863), Ex parte Milligan (1866), Ex parte Quirin (1942), Korematsu v. United States (1944), Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952), Dames & Moore v. Regan (1981), Hamdi v. Rumsfeld (2004), Hamdan v. Rumsfeld (2006), Boumediene v. Bush (2008) (excerpt is here) (2/27-2/29, 3/5)

Part Three. Nation-State Relations

VI. Federalism: Some Introductory Notes (Epstein & Walker, pp. 325-336). McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) (3/6-3/7)

No classes on 3/12-3/14 (Spring Break)

VII. The Commerce Power

A. Foundations of Commerce Power (Epstein & Walker, pp. 400-406)—Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) (3/7, 3/19)

B. The Commerce Power before the New Deal Confrontation (Epstein & Walker, pp. 407-432; pp. 345-350)—Shreveport Rate Case (1914), United States v. E.C. Knight Co. (1895), Schechter Poultry Corporation v. United States (1935), Champion v. Ames (1903) (note: excerpt is on pp. 464-467), Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918) (3/19-3/20)

C. The Commerce Power after the New Deal Confrontation (Epstein & Walker, pp. 433-445; 365-366)—National Labor Relations Board v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corp. (1937), United States v. Darby Lumber (1941), Wickard v. Filburn (1942), Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States (1964) (note: excerpt is on pp. 486-489), Perez v. United States (the excerpt is here) (3/20-3/21, 3/23)

D. The Republican Court and the Commerce Power (Epstein & Walker, pp. 350-365; 445-464)—National League of Cities v. Usery (1976), Garcia v. SAMTA (1985), New York v. United States (1992), United States v. Lopez (1995), United States v. Morrison (2000), Gonzales v. Raich (2005) (3/23, 3/26-3/27)

E. The Debate over the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (3/30)

VIII. Other Topics of Interest: Sovereign Immunity (see Epstein & Walker, pp. 371-378), the Commerce Power of the States (see Epstein & Walker, pp. 471-490), National Preemption of State Laws (see Epstein & Walker, pp. 384-399) (3/30)


No class on 3/28. We will make up this class on 3/23
No class on 4/11. We will make up this class on 3/30.

 

Part Four. Individual Rights and Liberties

VIII. Overview of Key Concepts and Debates (4/2)

IX. Due Process

A. Economic Substantive Due Process (Epstein & Walker, pp. 582-592; 602-608; 623-629)—The Slaugherhouse Cases (1873), Lochner v. New York (1905), West Coast Hotel v. Parrish (1937), Williamson v. Lee Optical (1955) (4/3-4/4)

C. Substantive Due Process and Privacy (Epstein & Walker, Volume II, pp. 385-404; 409-429 [on Blackboard])—Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), Roe v. Wade (1973), Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (1992); Lawrence v. Texas (2003) (4/4, 4/9-4/10)

X. Equal Protection

A. Race Discrimination (Epstein & Walker, Volume II, pp. 577-597; 659-667; 675-685 [on Blackboard])—Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), Brown v. Board of Education (1954), Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978), Grutter v. Bollinger (2003) (4/10, 4/16-4/17)

B. Sex Discrimination (Epstein & Walker, Volume II [on Blackboard], pp. 624-634)—Reed v. Reed (1971), Craig v. Boren (1976) (4/17-4/18)

XI. Same-Sex Marriage—Perry v. Schwarzenegger (to be posted here) (4/23)

XII. Loose Ends, Review (4/24)
     
  Contact