Welcome to Public Law!

The main objective of this seminar is for students to develop a comprehensive understanding of the institutions through which the U.S. Government makes choices through law on behalf of the American people. We will examine some of these choices by:

• Expanding you knowledge of the structures, rules and processes of the major policy making and interpretive institutions of the U.S. Government.

• Expanding your knowledge of the interrelationship of those institutions.

• Expanding your knowledge of the non-governmental influences on public law and policy.

• Examining several major areas of public law and their effect on the American people and the institutions which created them.

• Debating within the seminar public policy questions.

The course will be divided into two major sections. In part I we will examine the institutions, both governmental and non governmental, which comprise the public law making system and in part II we will examine some major areas of public law, many of which have generated great controversy.

Part I will study in detail the myriad parts of the public law making system – the legislative role of Congress, the Executive branch’s role in policy formulation and execution, the usually overlooked but crucial administrative agency rule making and regulation promulgation processes, the role of non governmental groups and, of course, the judicial review function of the courts. Part II will focus on numerous substantive areas of public law including civil liberties and rights. The selection of which will based, in part, upon the concern or interests of the students. The specific areas we will consider will depend on current events, the availability of speakers on topics of interest and the overall importance of the topic.

We will meet in small groups with Members of Congress and former Members. We will meet with a number of people who either were policy makers or worked with them outside of the legislative branch. You will get an inside view of how the system really works. Each seminar will be different, and they will include class debates, mock legislative markups and attendance at legislative, judicial and regulatory meetings.

I hope you will join us for an exciting semester of seminars and interning.

Professor Dan Freeman