LAW 7108 :
Comparative Constitutional Law

PREREQUISITES: Constitutional Law I (1000), Constitutional Law II (1001)-Concurrent In helping frame the U.S. Constitution, James Madison studied other countries' basic governmental design. To what extent should comparative constitutional insight, inform the U.S. approach to interpreting its basic law? Comparative constitutional law will compare and contrast the American experiences--with federalism, the separation of powers, judicial review, and fundamental individual rights--with a variety of other countries and their constitutional systems. We will discuss whether this comparative prespective calls into question our underlying assumptions about the nature of constitutions and constitutionalism. In addition, we will critique the methods and methodology of comparative constitutional study.