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030024 KU Introduction to US Law (2025S)
Continuous assessment of course work
Labels
Registration/Deregistration
Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
- Registration is open from Tu 11.02.2025 00:01 to Tu 25.02.2025 23:59
- Deregistration possible until We 19.03.2025 23:59
Details
max. 40 participants
Language: English
Lecturers
Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N
- N Wednesday 19.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 26.03. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 02.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 09.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 30.04. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 07.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 14.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 21.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 28.05. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 04.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 11.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
- Wednesday 18.06. 14:00 - 16:00 Hörsaal U14 Schottenbastei 10-16, Juridicum, KG1
Information
Aims, contents and method of the course
Assessment and permitted materials
Students will be assessed on the basis of a written exam, which will take place towards the end of the course, and on the basis of their participation during the class, weighted 70% for the written exam and 30% for oral participation.
Minimum requirements and assessment criteria
In order to be successful in the exam, students must demonstrate that they (1) have understood the basic principles of US and UK law, (2) are familiar with the legal sources of these legal systems, and (3) are able to understand legal texts originating from these legal systems.
The grades will be based on the comprehensiveness, soundness and accuracy of the student’s answers.
The grades will be based on the comprehensiveness, soundness and accuracy of the student’s answers.
Examination topics
The written exam will consist of a series of questions that must be answered in essay format.
Reading list
Text books:
Byrd, Laby and Lehmann, Einführung in die angloamerikanische Rechtssprache / Introduction to Anglo-American Law & Language, C.H.Beck, 4. Auflage 2021.
Franz J. Heidinger, Andrea Hubalek, The Practitioners' Guide to Applied Comparative Law and Language, (Formerly Known as Angloamerikanische Rechtssprache), C.H. Beck, 2021.
E. A. Farnsworth, S Sheppard (ed), An Introduction to the Legal System of the United States, OUP 2010
W Burnham, Introduction to the law and legal system of the United States, Thomson/West 2011
J. M. Scheb, An introduction to the American legal system, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business / Aspen Publishers, 2010
Thomas E. Baker, Constitutional Analysis in a Nutshell, West Academic Publishing, 2018.
Mark Tushnet, The Constitution of the United States of America, 2nd ed., Hart Publishing, 2015.
Erwin Chemerinsky, Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies, 5th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2015.
Kermit L. Hall (ed.), The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, 2nd ed., OUP, 2005.
Jethro K. Lieberman, A Practical Companion to the Constitution, University of California Press, 1999.Treatises, commentaries, and other texts:
John E. Nowak and Ronald D. Rotunda, Treatise on Constitutional Law: Substance and Procedure, 5th ed., Thomson Reuters West, 2012.
William Rich and Chester James Antieau, Modern Constitutional Law, West Group, 1997.Further readings and references:
Sotirios A. Barber and James E. Fleming, Constitutional Interpretation: The Basic Questions, OUP, 2007.
Philip Bobbitt, Constitutional Fate : Theory of the Constitution, OUP, 1994.
Russell L. Weaver, Understanding the First Amendment, 5th ed., Lexis Nexis, 2014.
Ronald J. Krotoszynski, The First Amendment in Cross-Cultural Perspective, NYU Press, 2009.
Allan Ides and Christopher N. May, Constitutional Law--Individual Rights, 4th ed., Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2007.
Kent Greenawalt, Religion and the Constitution, 2 vols, Princeton University Press, 2006 (vol. 1) & 2008 (vol.2).
Lawrence Meir Friedman, Guarding Life's Dark Secrets, Stanford University Press, 2007.
S. B. Presser, Law professors : three centuries of shaping American law , West Academic Publishing, 2017
G. Grant, The ages of American law, Yale University Press, 2014
A, Bryan (ed), Black’s Law Dictionary, Thompson Reuters, 2014 (also available online on Westlaw)
K.L. Hall et al (eds), The Oxford Companion to American Law OUP 2002
Byrd, Laby and Lehmann, Einführung in die angloamerikanische Rechtssprache / Introduction to Anglo-American Law & Language, C.H.Beck, 4. Auflage 2021.
Franz J. Heidinger, Andrea Hubalek, The Practitioners' Guide to Applied Comparative Law and Language, (Formerly Known as Angloamerikanische Rechtssprache), C.H. Beck, 2021.
E. A. Farnsworth, S Sheppard (ed), An Introduction to the Legal System of the United States, OUP 2010
W Burnham, Introduction to the law and legal system of the United States, Thomson/West 2011
J. M. Scheb, An introduction to the American legal system, Wolters Kluwer Law & Business / Aspen Publishers, 2010
Thomas E. Baker, Constitutional Analysis in a Nutshell, West Academic Publishing, 2018.
Mark Tushnet, The Constitution of the United States of America, 2nd ed., Hart Publishing, 2015.
Erwin Chemerinsky, Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies, 5th ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2015.
Kermit L. Hall (ed.), The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, 2nd ed., OUP, 2005.
Jethro K. Lieberman, A Practical Companion to the Constitution, University of California Press, 1999.Treatises, commentaries, and other texts:
John E. Nowak and Ronald D. Rotunda, Treatise on Constitutional Law: Substance and Procedure, 5th ed., Thomson Reuters West, 2012.
William Rich and Chester James Antieau, Modern Constitutional Law, West Group, 1997.Further readings and references:
Sotirios A. Barber and James E. Fleming, Constitutional Interpretation: The Basic Questions, OUP, 2007.
Philip Bobbitt, Constitutional Fate : Theory of the Constitution, OUP, 1994.
Russell L. Weaver, Understanding the First Amendment, 5th ed., Lexis Nexis, 2014.
Ronald J. Krotoszynski, The First Amendment in Cross-Cultural Perspective, NYU Press, 2009.
Allan Ides and Christopher N. May, Constitutional Law--Individual Rights, 4th ed., Wolters Kluwer Law & Business, 2007.
Kent Greenawalt, Religion and the Constitution, 2 vols, Princeton University Press, 2006 (vol. 1) & 2008 (vol.2).
Lawrence Meir Friedman, Guarding Life's Dark Secrets, Stanford University Press, 2007.
S. B. Presser, Law professors : three centuries of shaping American law , West Academic Publishing, 2017
G. Grant, The ages of American law, Yale University Press, 2014
A, Bryan (ed), Black’s Law Dictionary, Thompson Reuters, 2014 (also available online on Westlaw)
K.L. Hall et al (eds), The Oxford Companion to American Law OUP 2002
Association in the course directory
Last modified: Fr 31.01.2025 08:05
All classes will be held in English. Participants should have a sound basis in a national civil law (any) and a good command of the English language. No prior knowledge of the Common law is necessary.