LAW 460 - Environmental Law and the Constitution Seminar

This 2-credit seminar will explore the intersection of environmental and constitutional law, with a particular focus on how constitutional limits on governmental power shape, and often complicate, environmental protection, as well as on efforts to locate constitutional rights in the federal or state constitutions. Potential topics to be covered include the commerce power, commandeering, regulatory takings, standing, the dormant commerce clause, the property clause, conditional spending, and environmental justice, and due process. Readings will largely consist of court opinions, commentary, and (for ongoing cases) litigation materials. Students will be asked to submit brief reflections on assigned readings, as well as to complete a substantial paper on an environmental law topic of their choosing, as well as to make a class presentation. There are no prerequisites for this course. Supplemental readings may be recommended for students with little familiarity with environmental law.