Nicholas Stephanopoulos : Courses and Seminars
Administrative Law
LAWS 46101
This course examines the structure of the administrative state, its relations to the other branches of government and private citizens, and the constitutional, statutory, and common law rules that govern the substance and procedure of administration action and inaction. The course focuses on some constitutional topics, including the non-delegation doctrine, presidential control over administrative agencies, and the delegation of adjudicative authority to non-Article III officers. Substantial attention is given to the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) and other statutory requirements for lawful agency action. Covered topics include the proper role of agencies in interpreting statutory and regulatory law; judicial review of agency decisions; public participation in agency rulemaking; and non-traditional approaches to regulation, including negotiation and privatization. A central theme of the course is how the law manages the tension between rule of law values (e.g., procedural regularity, accountability, and substantive limits on arbitrary action) and the desire for flexible, effective administrative governance.
The student's grade is based on a final examination.
Autumn 2012
Nicholas Stephanopoulos
Election Law
LAWS 95903
This course examines the law, both constitutional and statutory, that governs the American electoral system. Topics covered include the right to vote, reapportionment and redistricting, minority representation, the regulation of political parties, and campaign finance. The course draws heavily from both legal and political science scholarship. It addresses constitutional provisions including the First, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments, as well as key statutes such as the Voting Rights Act, the Federal Election Campaign Act, and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act. Students will develop an understanding of not only election law doctrine, but also the theoretical and functional underpinnings of the American electoral system.
A student's grade will be based on a take-home final examination or a major paper.
Winter 2013
Nicholas Stephanopoulos
The Comparative Law of Democracy
LAWS 95904
This seminar offers a comparative examination of the major topics in election law, in particular the right to vote, reapportionment and redistricting, minority representation, and campaign finance. Issues the seminar addresses include the following: How and why do countries choose their various election law policies? What conditions are conducive to the reform of election laws? What sorts of normative and empirical judgments can we make about different countries' approaches? What changes would we recommend for the American model of election law?
Election Law is a recommended pre-requisite.
Students will be assessed via a substantial research paper and class participation.
Winter 2013
Nicholas Stephanopoulos
Workshop: Public Law and Legal Theory
LAWS 63402
Working from a variety of methodological orientations, the workshop examines questions arising at the intersections of public law, legal theory, and interdisciplinary work in law and the social sciences, with an emphasis on criminal law, legal history, and politics. Sessions are devoted to the presentation and discussion of papers by faculty members from other institutions.
Students must enroll for the entire year and will receive one pass/fail credit.
Students are required to read the papers, attend the workshop, ask questions, and to submit one reaction paper per quarter on a paper of their choosing.
Spring 2013
Bernard E. Harcourt, Alison LaCroix, Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Laura Weinrib
Workshop: Public Law and Legal Theory
LAWS 63402
Working from a variety of methodological orientations, the workshop examines questions arising at the intersections of public law, legal theory, and interdisciplinary work in law and the social sciences, with an emphasis on criminal law, legal history, and politics. Sessions are devoted to the presentation and discussion of papers by faculty members from other institutions.
Students must enroll for the entire year and will receive one pass/fail credit.
Students are required to read the papers, attend the workshop, ask questions, and to submit one reaction paper per quarter on a paper of their choosing.
Winter 2013
Bernard E. Harcourt, Alison LaCroix, Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Laura Weinrib
Workshop: Public Law and Legal Theory
LAWS 63402
Working from a variety of methodological orientations, the workshop examines questions arising at the intersections of public law, legal theory, and interdisciplinary work in law and the social sciences, with an emphasis on criminal law, legal history, and politics. Sessions are devoted to the presentation and discussion of papers by faculty members from other institutions.
Students must enroll for the entire year and will receive one pass/fail credit.
Students are required to read the papers, attend the workshop, ask questions, and to submit one reaction paper per quarter on a paper of their choosing.
Autumn 2012
Bernard E. Harcourt, Alison LaCroix, Nicholas Stephanopoulos, Laura Weinrib
