LAWU-336 U.S. Constitution & Religion
This course will examine the Religion Clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provide that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." These provisions, referred to as the Establishment Clause and Free Exercise Clause, are enumerated in the Bill of Rights, and they form the constitutional basis of religious liberty in the United States. This course will first explore the historical and jurisprudential foundations of both Clauses and then address the contours of the provisions as interpreted by the United States Supreme Court, asking how and why the Court’s analysis has evolved. The course will also touch upon statutory causes of action that are closely related to the Religion Clauses, such as cases brought under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act The goal of the course is to understand the original meaning of the Clauses, their development throughout American history and the Court’s jurisprudence, and to examine potential doctrinal directions of current issues in the religious liberty field of litigation.
Prerequisite: Take LAWU-101, LAWU-201, and POLS-225.
Prerequisite
Student has completed all of the following course(s) LAWU 101 - Ethics & Legal Practice Skills, LAWU 201 - Introduction to Law, POLS 225 - U.S. Con Law & Civil Liberties