Comparative Constitutional Law

This course will introduce students to constitutional government in comparative perspective. In the first half of the course, we will focus on presidential v. parliamentary systems, separation of powers, "fourth branch" institutions and the influence of transnational institutions. In the second half, we will focus on rights and the way that they are interpreted by courts. We will trace the emergence (and decline) of a global constitutional culture and discuss the constitutions of South Africa, India, Germany, France, Hungary, Colombia and Canada with side references to the U.S.