1. Vicki C. Jackson & Mark Tushnet, Comparative Constitutional Law (2d ed. 2006) (referred to in this Syllabus as “CB”)
   • Where you can get it: the Bookstore

2. Documentary Supplement to Vicki C. Jackson & Mark Tushnet, Comparative Constitutional Law (2d ed. 2006) (referred to in this Syllabus as "CB Doc. Supp.)
   • Where you can get it: the Bookstore

3. Additional Document Supplement (available here) (pp. 1-384) (referred to in this Syllabus as “Add. Doc. Supp.”)
   • Where you can get it: here

4. Supplementary Readings, Parts I (pp. 1-71), II (pp. 72-88), III (pp. 89-167), IV (pp. 168-261) (referred to in this Syllabus as “Supp. Readings”)
   • Where you can get it: here

• New 2007 Exam

• Current Assignments: Check this page to see what part of the Syllabus (below) is assigned for upcoming classes.
• Past Assignments

Notes:

1. See above [Books & Supplements] for what the abbreviations, “Add. Doc. Supp.,” “CB Doc. Supp.,” “CB,” and “Supp. Readings,” mean.

2. Note: For all the assignments in this syllabus, I suggest that you read over the questions about the material posted on the Current Assignments page before you begin reading the material, and then go over the questions after you have read the material. We may not discuss every single question posted on the Current Assignments page, and I may ask questions in class that I haven’t posted, but in general the questions on the page will reflect what we’re going to go over.

I.    Introduction to the Study of Comparative Constitutional Law

      A. Constitutions as Texts
          Add. Doc. Supp. 1-340

      B. Interpreting Constitutions
          Supp. Readings 1-19 (Reference Decision (Canada), and INS v. Chadha (US))
          CB 586-592 (Southwest Case) (Germany))

      C. Making Constitutions: A Case Study (Kenya)
          Supp. Readings 20-57

      D. Doing Comparative Constitutional Law: A First Assessment
          1. What is Comparative Constitutional Law?
              CB 141-155
              Supp. Readings 58-71
          2. Comparing Legal Decisions on a Particular Issue: The Death Penalty & Life Without Parole
              CB 155-187
              Supp. Readings 72-83
          3. Problems and Methods
              CB 187-211
              Supp. Readings 84-88
              Optional: The Irish Supreme Court’s opinion in McGee v. Attorney General (referred to at CB 197).

II.    Constitutions and Constitutionalism

      A. The Purpose and Function of Constitutions
          CB 212-243

      B. Constitutions Without Constitutionalism
          CB 243-273

III.    Creating Constitutions

      A. Processes of Creation: What Makes a Constitution Legitimate?
          CB 274-296

      B. Constitutional Moments
          CB 296-324

      C. Case Study: The Experience of Eastern and Central Europe
          1. 1989 and Afterwards
              a. Creating a Constitution
                  CB 324-355
              b. The Hungarian Supreme Court and Social Welfare Rights
                  CB 1708-1738
          2. Hungary Today
              Supp. Readings 89-161
              Note: you can find the new Hungarian Constitution at Add. Doc. Supp. 341-384

IV.    Constitutional Entrenchment and Democracy

      A. Constitutionalism without a Constitution?
          CB 365-379
          Supp. Readings 162-167

      B. Constitutions and Bills of Rights
          1. The UK
              CB 379-402
              CB Doc. Supp. 1-7
          2. Canada & Israel
              CB 412-437, 461-463
              Add. Doc. Supp. 16-54 (review)

V.    Constitutional Courts

      A. Europe
          1. The “European Model”
              CB 464-468, 480 (France), 482-485, 485-492
          2. France
              CB 507-525, 592-600

      B. Egypt: The Rise and Fall of an Independent Court under Authoritarian Rule
          Supp. Readings 168-214

      C. Pakistan: An Emerging Independent Court?
          Supp. Readings 215-255

      D. India: Standing and Judicial Activism
          CB 707-737

      E. Judicialization of Politics
          CB 766-777

VI.    Varieties of Federalism

      A. Canada
          CB 930-963
          Const. Act, 1867, Arts. 91-95 (Add. Doc. Supp. 28-31)

      B. Germany
          CB 963-981; CB 586-591 (review)
          Art. 20(1) (Add. Doc. Supp. 150)
          Arts. 28-37(Add. Doc. Supp. 153-157)
          Arts. 70-91b (Add. Doc. Supp. 165-180)
          Arts. 104a-115 (Add. Doc. Supp. 184-192)

      C. India
          Supp. Readings 256-261

VII.    Protecting and Promoting Rights

      A. Religion

          1. State Support of Religion and Freedom of Religion
              CB 1364-1390
              Supp. Readings 115, 142-145 (Hungary) (review)
              Review these provsions:

• U.S.: Art. II § 1 (last clause) (ADS 6); Art. VI, cl. 3 (ADS 8); Amendment I (ADS 9)
• Canada: Constitution Act, 1982, Art. 1 (ADS 43); Art. 2(a) (ADS 43); Art. 15(ADS 45); Art. 27 (ADS 47); Art. 33 (ADS 48)
• South Africa: Preamble (ADS 55); Section 9 (ADS 57); Section 15 (ADS 58); Section 31 (ADS 62); Section 36 (ADS 63-64); Section 37(5) (ADS 64-65); Art. 74(2) (ADS 75)
• Germany: Preamble (ADS 142); Art. 3(3) (ADS 143); Art. 4 (ADS 143); Art. 7 (ADS 144); Art. 19 (150); Art. 79 (ADS 172)
• Kenya: Preamble (ADS 215); Art. 24 (ADS 222-223); Art. 27(4) (ADS 224); Art. 32 (ADS 225); Art. 45(4) (ADS 229); Art. 58 (ADS 234); Art. 91(2)(a) (ADS 247); Art. 255 (ADS 313-315)
• Hungary: Preamble (ADS 341); Art. I (ADS 345); Art. VII (ADS 350); Art. XV (ADS 352); Art. 54 (ADS 383)
• In addition, please review the Basic Law: Human Dignity and Liberty (Israel) (CB Doc. Supp. 16-17)

          2. Establishment
              CB 1390-1431
              CB Doc. Supp. 47

      B. Freedom of Expression: Hate Speech
          CB 1484-1528, 1550-1575

      C. Judicial Enforcement of Social Welfare Rights
          CB 1661-1708; CB 1708-1738 (review)
          CB Doc. Supp. 49-51