POL 453 Constitutional Theory and Interpretation
Between the words of the Constitution and the decisions made by the Supreme Court lie the contentious and confounding worlds of constitutional doctrine and interpretive theory. In this course, we examine the intellectual battles over the theories of interpretation that strengthen or undermine doctrines and thus ultimately shape the Court decisions that can have tremendous impact on real persons, democracy and governmental power. We will consider interpretative approaches such as textualism, originalism, fundamental values, legal realism and Progressive constitutionalism.
Cross Listed Courses
POL 453 &
POL 553