Course ID
040343
Course Description
The American family appears to be undergoing a period of substantial change. The Supreme Court has recognized a constitutional right to same-sex marriage; the law is adjusting to accommodate the rising number of cohabiting couples; and courts are questioning the constitutionality of bans against polygamous marriages. This seminar will contextualize these changes by looking to the evolution of the family unit as told by the legal rules that regulate it. Rather than remain strictly within the discrete realm of family law, this seminar considers how a number of different areas of the law -- including immigration law, criminal law, property law, trusts and estates law -- regulate, and in the process define, what constitutes a family. Readings will encompass court opinions, statutes, and news articles as well as excerpts from scholarly articles in disciplines spanning law, sociology, and history.
Min Units
2
Max Units
2
Repeatable for Credit
No
Grading Basis
ALT - Alternative Grading +/- A,B,C,D,E,S,P,F
Career
Law
Course Requisites
May be convened with
Component
Seminar
Optional Component
No