Course Schedule

I. Social and Anthropological Theories of Law as Social Phenomenon - Weeks 1 and 2
  • Readings for Week 1
    • "The People v. Willie Monroe," from The Blind Eagle, pp. 15-33
    • Law and Society, Chapter 1, "Introduction," pp. 1-30
  • Panel #1 - Are Pretextual Stops by the Police Constitutional? - September 16th Click here for handout
    • Taking Sides, "Are Pretextual Stops by the Police Constitutional?" pp. 118-132
  • Readings for Week 2
    • Law and Society, Chapter 2, "Theoretical Perspectives," pp. 39-76
II. Lawmaking - Weeks 3 and 4
  • Readings for Week 3
    • Law and Society, Chapter 3, "The Organization of the Law," pp. 89-148
    • Law and Society, Chapter 4, "Lawmaking," pp. 163.195
  • Panel #2 - Capital Punishment and the Mentally Retarded - September 23rd Click here for handout
    • Taking Sides, "Is it Constitutional to Impose the Death Penalty on the Mentally Retarded?" pp. 194-215
  • Readings for Week 4
    • Law and Society, "Discord over the Death Penalty," pp. 207-214
III. The Psychology and Mythology of the Courtroom - Weeks 5 and 6
  • Readings for Weeks 5 and 6
    • Law and Society, Chapter 6, "Law and Dispute Resolution," pp. 271-284 only
      • Jury Selection/Voir Dire/Change of Venue
      • False Memories
  • Alternative Legal Systems
    • [No assigned readings; class lecture]
      • 1) Trial by ordeal
      • 2) Islamic law
      • 3) The Kris Romani of the Gypsies (Rom)
      • 4) Sard Law
      • 5) Amish
      • Exam I (October 17th)

      IV. The Dialectical Relation between Law and Social Change - Weeks 7 - 13

      • Readings for Week 7
        • Law and Society, Chapter 7, "Law and Social Change," pp. 331-363
        • Law and Society, Chapter 6, "Law and Dispute Resolution," pp. 284-320 only
      A. The Fugitive Slave Act of 1850
      • Readings for Week 8
        • Bloody Dawn, pp. 3-186
      • Panel #3 - The Insanity Defense - October 28th Click here for handout
        • Taking Sides, "Should the Insanity Defense Be Abolished?" pp. 98-117
      • Panel #4 - Affirmative Action in College Admissions - November 4th Click here for handout
        • Taking Sides, "Do Race Conscious Programs Violate 14th Amendment Rights?" pp. 352-371
      B. White Collar Crime
      • Readings for Weeks 9-10
        • The Buffalo Creek Disaster [Read Whole Book]
        • Law and Society, "White Collar Crime," pp. 241-246 only
      Exam II (November 14th)

      C. The Civil Rights Movement

      • Readings for Week 11
        • Eyes on the Prize, Chapter 2, "Standing for Justice," Mississippi and the Till Case, pp. 37-58
        • Eyes on the Prize, Chapter 3, "We're not Moving to the Back, Mr. Blake," The Montgomery Bus Boycott, pp. 59-89
      • Readings for Week 12
        • Eyes on the Prize, Chapter 6, "Freedom in the Air," The Lessons of Albany and Birmingham, pp. 163-195
        • Eyes on the Prize, Chapter 8, "Selma," The Bridge to Freedom, pp. 251-286
      D. Women's Suffrage and the Equal Rights Movements
      • Readings for Weeks 12-13
        • Course Handout, "Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions," pp. 307-311
      V. Contemporary Legal Issues Analyzed in Socio-Historical Context - Week 14
      • Panel #5 - Cross Burnings and the US Constitution - December 9th Click here for handout
        • Taking Sides, "Are Blanket Prohibitions on Cross Burnings Unconstitutional" pp. 282-301
      • Panel #6 - The Right to Die - December 12th Click here for handout
        • Taking Sides, "Are Restrictions on Physician-Assisted Suicide Constitutional?" pp. 38-61
      Final Exam (December 14th or 21st 12:15 PM-2:15 PM)

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