Foreign Affairs and the Constitution
This seminar examines issues in constitutional law related to foreign affairs. It focuses on issues of separation of powers and federalism in examining topics such as the treaty power, war powers, and customary international law. Particular attention is paid to current controversies, including those arising from the "war on terrorism"; the Supreme Court cases related to the death penalty and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations; the Alien Tort Claims Act; and international trade agreements like the WTO and NAFTA. Having taken the course on Federal Courts would be useful, but is not required as a prerequisite.