The University of Texas at Austin   School of Law

This seminar will examine the dynamics of major constitutional change in American history.  The focus will be on historical and explanatory questions such as:  What is constitutional development? How has constitutional development historically occurred? What roles did the various branches of the federal government play in these episodes of development? Particular emphasis will be on examining the dynamics of constitutional change during Reconstruction and the mid-twentieth century Civil Rights Era.  Readings will largely consist of conceptual or theoretical works by both legal scholars and political scientists that address these questions, supplemented by key Supreme Court opinions.

Constitutional Studies