GOVT 3322 (SECTION 501) CONSTITUTIONAL LAW

Professor Chad King Fall 2005

Office: GR 3.232 Location: GR 2.302
e-mail:chadk@utd.edu Time: 7-9:45 T
Phone: 883-4558 Office Hours: T 2-4

Teaching Assistant- Alex Fit-Florea

Office: GR 3._____ (x_____) Office Hours: W 5-7

Course Description

By design, the United States Constitution created a government that limited, separated
and checked the powers of government: powers and authority were divided between the
national government and state governments creating a system of Federalism; each of the
three branches of government was given both its own distinct powers as well as powers
to keep the others in check. Why we study Constitutional Law, however, is that these
various grants of power and authority are not self-enforcing. By and large the Supreme
Court has been an arbiter, determining what the appropriate powers of the federal
government and its three branches are. In this course we examine the methods used the
evolution of the Constitution of the United States and the role of the Supreme Court in
the development of the American constitutional system.

Course Administration

Instructor’s Expectations of Students

Students are expected to attend class regularly, show up on time, having completed the
reading assignments for that day. Students should be respectful of their fellow classmates
and the instructor by refraining from distracting behavior such as talking, eating, passing
notes or using cell phones/pagers.

For all exams, students are required to bring at least one form of photo identification
(Comet Card, Driver’s License, or Passport) and blue books.

Academic Dishonesty

Students are also expected to comply with UTD rules regarding scholastic dishonesty.
Any possible violations of UTD policies are subject to disciplinary penalties that might
result in a failing course for this grade or even expulsion from UTD. Because of the
seriousness of academic dishonesty as well as the harm it causes both other students as
well as the University, all policies relating to academic dishonesty will be stringently
enforced. If you are unclear about what constitutes academic dishonest, you should
familiarize yourself with UTD’s policies located at the following World Wide Web
address, http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html.

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Disability Services

If you have a physical, psychological, medical or learning disability that may affect your
ability to carry out assigned course work, you should first contact Office of Disability
Services in room 1.610 in the Student Union or by phone at 883-2070. They will review
your concerns and determine appropriate accommodations before contacting the
instructor. Students who do not follow this procedure will not be given accommodations.
All information and documentation relating to such issues will be kept confidential.

Electronic Mail & Telephone Contact

E- mail and the phone are efficient and fast ways to get in touch with either the TA or
myself. There are some limitations, however, to what you may contact us about over the
either medium. Federal law prohibits the discussion of grades over the phone or e- mail.
We cannot and will not talk about grades over either. Such communication should occur
in person and should be conducted directly with the instructor and not the TA.

Evaluation of Students

Performance in this class will be based upon the following components.

a. Attendance (10%)
Because we only meet once a week, attendance is very important in this class.
Attendance will be taken at the end of every class. Students will be required to
sign a class roll to receive credit for that day. Students may not sign the roll early.

b. Case Brief Assignment (10%)

Starting with the 3rd class meeting, students will be required to submit in class
(not via e-mail) a typed case brief using the format given in class every other
week. The specific case will be assigned the class before. The brief will be
graded for whether it correctly follows the given format. Students will receive
either a check or a minus. Once a student has received 2 checks, the student no
longer needs to submit briefs for grading. Until you receive 2 checks, you must
pass in the brief assigned for that week. Failure to pass in a brief will result in a 1
point deduction from the Case Brief Assignment grade.

c. Quizzes (20%)
At the beginning of every class, students will take a short, 3 question quiz which
covers material from the readings assigned for that day. These quizzes will be
either True/False or very short answer. Make- up quizzes will not be given;
however, the lowest 2 quiz grades will be automatically dropped.

d. Midterm 1 and Midterm 2 (30% Each)

The midterms will include both short answer and essay questions over material
from the text and lectures. Make-up exams may be given, but typically only in
the case of serious medical issues. The instructor reserves the right to ask for
supporting documentation for any request for a make-up exam.

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Grading

Finals grades will be assigned using the following letter/number conversion.

A: 94-100 B-: 80-83 D+ 67-69

A-: 90-93 C+: 77-79 D: 64-66
B+: 87-89 C: 74-76 D-: 60-63
B: 84-86 C-: 70-73 F: Below 60

Extra Credit

There will be no extra credit in this class, so please do not inquire about it.

Reading Assignments

The required text is Constitutional Law for a Changing America: Institutional Powers
and Constraints, 5th Edition, by Epstein and Walker, (2004). While earlier editions are
available, I strongly encourage you to purchase the 2004 edition.

Date Briefs Due Assigned Readings

8/23 Introduction of the Syllabus, pg. 3-60
8/30 The Judiciary
9/6 X The Legislature
9/13 The Executive I
9/20 X The Executive II
9/27 Separation of Powers System in Action
10/4 Midterm Exam #1
10/11 X Federalism I
10/18 Federalism II
10/25 X The Commerce Power I
11/1 The Commerce Power II
11/8 X The Power to Tax and Spend (Skip p. 510-536)
11/15 Economic Substantive Due Process
11/22 X The Takings Clause
11/29 Midterm Exam #2