Law 6936: Fall 2009
Comparative Constitutional History
Room 350
2:00-3:50 PM, Thursday
Elizabeth Dale
edale@ufl.edu
Office hours: Thursdays at the law school 11:30-1:30 or by appointment
Assigned readings:
Greene, Peripheries and Center
Langley, The Americas in the Age of Revolution
Kley, The French Idea of Freedom
*Brown, Constitutions in a Nonconstitutional World
Jacobson, Weimar: A Jurisprudence of Crisis
Klug, Constituting Democracy
Jacobson, Apple of Gold
*Brzezinski, Struggle for Constitutionalism in Poland
Hirschl, Towards Juristocracy
*These books are part of the second assignment (see below), you need only buy one of them (you may, of course, buy them both but you will only need one for class).
Also the online readings attached to this syllabus
Assignments:
Option 1:
Presentation, Part I: Group presentation of a particular constitution and its historical context. Worth 25% of grade
Assignment 2: Comparison study of two books: either Brown or Brzezinski and one other book from this semester. Worth 25% of grade
Presentation, Part II: Group report for publication to class of constitution that was the subject of the presentation. Worth 25% of grade
Class participation: Participation in discussions and attendance. Worth 25% of grade
Option 2:
Presentation, Part I: Group presentation of a particular constitution and its historical context. Worth 25% of grade
Class participation: Participation in discussions and attendance. Worth 25% of grade.
Seminar paper: on constitutional subject of your choice, for seminar paper credit. Worth 50% of grade
Week 1: Thursday, August 27
Intro to seminar, discussion of Charter 08
Week 2: Thursday, September 3
Greene, Peripheries and Center
Week 3: Thursday, September 10
Klay, The French Idea of Freedom (Read the chapters beginning on the following pages: 1, 5, 114, 154, 199, 300)
French Declaration of the Rights of Man
Week 4: Thursday, September 17
Langley, Americas in the Age of Revolution
Constitution of Mexico (1824)
Week 5: Thursday, September 24
Presentation: Constitution of Mexico (1857) (in Spanish)
Week 6: Thursday, October 1
Presentation: Constitution of the Confederate States of America (1861)
Week 7: Thursday, October 8
Presentation: Constitution of the German Empire (1871)
Week 8: Thursday, October 15
Presentation: Ottoman Constitution (1876)
Week 9: Thursday, October 22
Presentation: Meiji Constitution (1889)
Week 10: Thursday, October 29
Presentation: South Africa Act (1909)
Week 11: Thursday, November 5
Jacobson, Weimar: Jurisprudence of Crisis (Read the chapters beginning on the following pages: 1, 41, 54, 256, 294, 323, 328)
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany (1919)
Week 12: Thursday, November 12
No class, need to schedule make up session
Jacobson, Apple of Gold
Week 13: Thursday, November 19
Klug, Constituting Democracy
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (1997)
Week 14: Thursday, November 26
No class, Thanksgiving
Week 15: Thursday, December 3
Hirschl, Towards Juristocracy
2d assignment (comparison paper using Brown or Bzrezinski) due
Week 16: Thursday, December 10
No class, meetings to discuss revisions to projects
Finals