LAW 5773 - U.S. Foreign Affairs Law

Credit(s): 3
This course examines the legal framework and influences on how the United States conducts foreign relations under U.S. Law. In particular, we will use current events and ongoing controversies in U.S. foreign policy to assess the distribution of foreign affairs powers among the three branches of government, the degree of integration of international law as part of U.S. law, the relationship between the federal and state (and local) governments in the realm of foreign affairs, and the interaction of international institutions (such as the UN) and domestic lawmaking bodies. We will also contend with the difficulty of hard delineations of what is “foreign” or “domestic” and how these soft substantive borders effect the doctrinal operation of U.S. law. The final will be an in-class exam. Attendance and participation in class are required.