Constitutional Law of the United States
Course Outline (First Term 2004)
Tuesday and Thursday: 4:15 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.
Professor David Schneiderman
Flavelle 341, Phone: 416-978-2677
E-Mail: david.schneiderman@utoronto.ca
Objectives:
This course will introduce students to basic themes and issues in U.S. constitutional law. Given the
breadth of material available, we will confine ourselves to a number of key selected topics. They include
the origins of judicial review in the U.S., a brief introduction to the federal division of powers, and then
matters arising under the Bill of Rights: equality rights, liberty, and free speech will be taken up (also
religion, if there is time). Throughout the course, students will be asked to consider the competing
theories of constitutional interpretation upon which much U.S. constitutional law is derived and to be
attentive to similar or contrasting approaches in Canadian constitutional law.
Method of Evaluation:
Students may choose one of the two following methods:
1.
A three hour open book examination (worth 100 per cent) to be held on the morning of December
16, 2003
or
2.
A twenty-five (25) page research paper (worth 100 per cent) written during the term and
submitted before the last day of the examination period. Paper topics must be approved in
advance by the instructor.
Text:
1.
Geoffrey R. Stone, Louis M. Seidman, Cass R. Sunstein and Mark V. Tushnet, Constitutional
Law, 4th ed. (Gaithersburg: Aspen Publishers, 2001).
Supplementary Cases:
2.
Legal Information Institute [LII], Supreme Court Collection at http://supct.law.cornell.edu/supct.
Helpful Resources (most of which are available for short term loan) :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Erwin Chemerinsky, Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies, 2nd ed. (Gaithersburg: Aspen
Publishers).
Edward S. Corwin, The Constitution and What it Means Today, rev’d. H.W. Chase an C.R. Ducat
(Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1978)
David P. Currie, The Constitution of the United States, 2nd ed. (Chicago 2000).
Kermit Hall, ed., The Oxford Companion to the United States Supreme Court (New York: Oxford
University Press, 1992).
Allan Ides and Christopher N. May, Constitutional Law: Individual Rights (Gaithersburg: Aspen
Law, 1998).
Allan Ides and Christopher N. May, Constitutional Law: National Power and Federalism
(Gaithersburg: Aspen Law, 1998).
Norman Redlich, John Attanasio and Joel K. Goldstein, Understanding Constitutional Law 2nd
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8.
9.
10.
ed. (New York: Matthew Bender, 1999).
Louis Michael Seidman, Constitutional Law: Equal Protection of the Laws (NY: Foundation
Press, 2003).
Laurence H. Tribe, American Constitutional Law, 3rd ed., Vol. 1 (NY: Foundation Press, 2000).
Laurence H. Tribe, American Constitutional Law, 2nd ed. (NY: Foundation Press, 1988).
Readings:
(All references are to Stone, Seidman, Sunstein and Tushnet, Constitutional Law, 4th ed. unless otherwise
indicated).
I. The Role of the Supreme Court in the Constitutional Scheme
A. Introduction: Some Notes on the History and Theory of the Constitution ........................................1-22
B. The Basic Framework
Marbury v. Madison ................................................................................................................23-30
Notes ........................................................................................................................................30-45
Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee ........................................................................................................45-49
Notes ........................................................................................................................................49-55
McCulloch v. Maryland ...........................................................................................................55-69
II. The Powers of Congress
A. Introduction ....................................................................................................................................137-43
B. The Basic Issues: Federalism and Judicial Review
Gibbons v. Ogden ..................................................................................................................143-46
Notes ......................................................................................................................................146-47
Hammer v. Dagenhart ...........................................................................................................147- 49
C. The Evolution of the Commerce Clause
A.L.A. Schechter Poultry Corp. v. United States ....................................................................167-69
Note.........................................................................................................................................173-75
Wickard v. Filburn................................................................................................................. 149-51
Heart of Atlanta Motel v. United States..................................................................................183-84
Note ........................................................................................................................................185-86
United States v. Lopez ............................................................................................................186-97
U.S. v. Morrison ....................................................................................................................197-99
Note ......................................................................................................................................199-203
V. Equality and the Constitution
A. Race and the Constitution ..............................................................................................................421-22
1. Slavery ................................................................................................................................422-23
State v. Post ..............................................................................................................423-25
Note ...........................................................................................................................425-27
Dred Scott v. Sandford ..............................................................................................427-29
Note ...........................................................................................................................429-31
2. Reconstruction and Retreat
Notes .........................................................................................................................431-37
Plessy v. Ferguson ....................................................................................................437-40
Note ...........................................................................................................................440-42
3. The Attack on Jim Crow
Note............................................................................................................................442-44
Note 1: Gaines v. Canada .............................................................................................. 444
2
Note 444-46
Brown v. Board of Education (I) ..............................................................................446-48
Note ...........................................................................................................................448-53
Brown v. Board of Education (II) .............................................................................453-55
Note ...........................................................................................................................455-56
5. The End of an Era
Note: On the Efficacy of Judicial Review ................................................................471-74
B. Equal Protection Methodology: Rational Basis Review
New York Transit Authority v. Beazer ......................................................................474-78
Notes .........................................................................................................................478-84
Railway Express Agency v. New York ......................................................................484-85
Williamson v. Lee Optical .............................................................................................. 485
Minnesota v. Clover Leaf Creamery Co. ..................................................................485-86
Note ...........................................................................................................................486-88
City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center ..............................................................488-90
C. Equal Protection Methodology: Heightened Scrutiny and the Problem of Race
Korematsu v. United States........................................................................................501-05
Washington v. Davis ..................................................................................................514-17
Note............................................................................................................................517-19
Note #1.......................................................................................................................553-54
Grutter v. Bollinger ........................... O’Connor (Opinion), Parts IA, IIA, IIIA & B at LII
D. Equal Protection Methodology: Heightened Scrutiny and the Problem of Gender
1. The Early Cases .................................................................................................................596-97
2. The Road to Intermediate Scrutiny
Reed v. Reed .................................................................................................................. 598
Frontiero v. Richardson .........................................................................................599-600
Note ...........................................................................................................................600-01
Craig v. Boren ..........................................................................................................602-07
Note ...........................................................................................................................607-10
E. Equal protection Methodology: The Problem of Sexual Orientation .................................................. 638
Bowers v. Hardwick ................................................................................................896-901
Romer v. Evans .........................................................................................................638-51
Notes .........................................................................................................................651-57
VI. Implied Fundamental Rights
E. Fundamental Interests and the Equal Protection Clause
1. Voting
b. Dilution of the ‘Right to Vote’
Reynolds v. Sims .......................................................................................................748-52
Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board ...................................... Per Curiam at LII
Bush v. Gore ........................................................................................................on reserve
B. The Privileges or Immunities Clause .................................................................................................. 692
The Slaughter House Cases ...................................................................................................693-98
Note ......................................................................................................................................698-702
C. The Incorporation Controversy
Adamson v. California .........................................................................................................705-706
D. Substantive Due Process: The Protection of Economic Interests and the Problem of “Redistribution”
Note ........................................................................................................................................710-13
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Lochner v. New York ..............................................................................................................713-18
Notes ......................................................................................................................................718-25
West Coast Hotel v. Parrish ..................................................................................................727-28
Note ........................................................................................................................................728-29
U.S. v. Carolene Products ....................................................................................... 729-30, 734 n.4
Note ........................................................................................................................................730-31
F. Modern Substantive Due Process: Privacy, Personhood, and Family .............................................810-11
1. The Right of Privacy
Griswold v. Connecticut ...........................................................................................811-19
Note ...........................................................................................................................819-23
2. Abortion
Roe v. Wade ..............................................................................................................823-29
Notes .........................................................................................................................829-35
Maher v. Roe..............................................................................................................835-38
Harris v. McRae ........................................................................................................838-39
City of Akron v. Akron Center for Reproductive Health ...........................................842-43
Note ...........................................................................................................................843-46
Notes: Webster and After ..........................................................................................846-50
Planned Parenthood v. Casey ...................................................................................850-70
3. Family and Other “Privacy Interests”
Bowers v. Hardwick................................................................................................ 896–901
Lawrence v. Texas ...................................... Kennedy (Opinion) and Scalia (Dissent) at LII
VII. Freedom of Expression
A. Introduction
Notes ..................................................................................................................................993-1005
B. Content-Based Restrictions: Dangerous Ideas and Information
1. Expression that Induces Unlawful Conduct .....................................................................1005-06
Shaffer v. United States ..........................................................................................1006-07
Masses Publishing Co. v. Patten ............................................................................1007-09
Schenck v. U.S. .......................................................................................................1009-11
Note .........................................................................................................................1011-13
Frohwerk v. United States .......................................................................................1013-14
Debs v. U.S. ................................................................................................................. 1014
Abrams v. U.S. ........................................................................................................1014-17
Note .........................................................................................................................1018-19
Gitlow v. New York..................................................................................................1019-23
Note .........................................................................................................................1023-24
Whitney v. California...............................................................................................1024-28
Note .........................................................................................................................1028-31
Dennis v. U.S. .........................................................................................................1031-35
Notes .....................................................................................................................1035-339
Brandenburg v. Ohio ..............................................................................................1040-42
Note .........................................................................................................................1042-44
3. Expression That Provokes a Hostile Audience Reaction
Terminiello v. Chicago ................................................................................................ 1056
Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire ................................................................................1066-68
Note .........................................................................................................................1068-71
Note: the Skokie Controversy .................................................................................1071-74
D. Content-Based Restrictions: “Low” Value Speech ......................................................................1112-13
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1. False Statements of Fact ....................................................................................................... 1113
New York Times v. Sullivan ....................................................................................1114-19
Note .........................................................................................................................1119-22
3. Commercial Advertising ..................................................................................................1139-40
Virginia State Board of Pharmacy v. Virginia Citizens Consumer Council ...........1140-45
Note .........................................................................................................................1146-48
Central Hudson Gas v. Public Service Commission................................................1150-51
4. Obscenity .........................................................................................................................1162-63
Roth v. U.S. .............................................................................................................1163-64
Notes .......................................................................................................................1164-71
Miller v. California .................................................................................................1171-74
Note .........................................................................................................................1179-81
New York v. Ferber ................................................................................................ 1183–84
5. The Lewd, the Profane, and the Indecent
Cohen v. California ................................................................................................1184-87
FCC v. Pacifica Foundation ...................................................................................1192-98
Reno v. ACLU .........................................................................................................1201-02
United States v. Playboy Entertainment Group, Inc. ..............................................1202-04
Note .............................................................................................................................. 1204
6. Hate Speech and Pornography
Beauharnais v. Illinois ............................................................................................1211-14
Note .........................................................................................................................1214-18
R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul .........................................................................................1219-24
Wisconsin v. Mitchell ..............................................................................................1224-25
Note .........................................................................................................................1233-34
Virginia v. Black ........................................................................ O’Connor (Opinion) at LII
VII. The Constitution and Religion
B. The Establishment Clause .................................................................................................................. 1426
1. The Anticoercion Principle
Lee v. Weisman ........................................................................................................1426-35
2. The Nonendorsement Principle and De Facto Establishments
Lynch v. Donnelly ....................................................................................................1438-44
4. Facially Neutral Statutes That Incidentally Aid Religion: Permissible and
Impermissible Effects
Mueller v. Allen .......................................................................................................1456-60
C. The Free Exercise Clause: Required Accommodations ..................................................................... 1469
Braunfeld v. Brown...............................................................................................................1469-70
Employment Division, Department of Human Resources v. Smith.......................................1476-84
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