University of Portland Bulletin 2014-2015

POL 423 Jurisprudence and Constitutional Interpretation

This course examines the role that philosophical theories of law play in our American Constitutional system. Topics include: the relationship between law and morality, the positivism vs. natural law debate, Ronald Dworkin's "principled" theory of Constitutional interpretation, Justice Scalia's "textualism," and Judge Richard Posner's pragmatic-economic approach to the law.

Prerequisite

POL 203 or permission of the instructor.