School of Law

Law I - 3037
Professor: Sergio Murias
Assistant Professor: Déborah Kamelman
Teaching Assistants: Gina Tangari – Mariana Foglia – Rocío Borello Oviedo

Schedule – 2nd Term 2020

Class Date Topic Reading

#
1. Wednesday, 1. Introduction. Practical aspects. Article – Bruce 1.1, 1.2;
August 19 Features of legal language. Register awareness. Schubert, chapter 1;
The meaning of law. Garner, selected entries;
Neubauer, chapter 2;
Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Section 1

2. Legal systems. Common law vs. civil law. Neubauer, chapter 2;

Main characteristics of each system. Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Section 3
Connectors.

2. Wednesday, 1. Historical sources of English law. Equity, Templeman, 1.1, 1.8;

August 26 common law. Bruce, 1.7;
Morrison (ed.), chapter 1;
Bruce, 1.4, 1.6;
Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Section 2

2. Laws, rules, regulations. Rights & duties. Harris, Phil, Chapter 4

3. Wednesday, 1. Sources of law: precedent, legislation. Templeman, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4,
September 2 Authoritative works. 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, 1.8, 1.9
Bruce, 1.7;
Templeman, chapter 3;
Morrison (ed.), chapter 1;
Bruce, 1.4, 1.6;
Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Chapter
1, Sections 2 & 3; Section 7
Neubauer, chapter 2;
Bruce, 1.9;

2. Constitutions. Definitions and contents. Barnett, chapters 1 and 2

Classification. (10th Edition);
The Cabinet Manual,
Introduction;
U.S. Constitution;
De Smith, chapters 1 and 2

4. Wednesday, 1. The structure of the UK. The British Barnett, chapter 3 (6th
September 9 constitution: Characteristics; sources; Edition);
Conventions. The Constitutional Reform Act Barnett, chapter 5 (10th
2005. Parliamentary sovereignty. Edition);
Cabinet Manual, various
chapters

2. The Constitution of the United States: U.S. Constitution

Organization, language features (deictics,
modals); the unwritten constitution.

5. Wednesday, 1. Separation of Powers in the US. Branches of U.S. Constitution;

September 16 government: Congress, president and judiciary.
Checks and balances.
Impeachment, veto, judicial review. Advice and
consent. Executive agreements. Appointment
and removal of officials.
Lowi, Selected Pages 74-101;
Lowi, Selected Pages 182-239;
Kaplan

2. Separation of Powers in the UK. The Barnett, chapter 4 (10th

institutions: parliament, government and Edition);
judiciary. McDowall, chapter 2;
School of Law
Law I - 3037
Professor: Sergio Murias
Assistant Professor: Déborah Kamelman
Teaching Assistants: Gina Tangari – Mariana Foglia – Rocío Borello Oviedo

Composition, functions and powers of The Cabinet Manual, chapters

Parliament. 3 and 5;
Cabinet Manual, various chapters

5. Wednesday, 1st test

September 23

6. Wednesday, 1. Federalism: The Basic Allocation of State and U.S. Constitution

September 30 Federal Authority. The primacy of federal law. Morrison (ed.), chapter 2;
Supremacy clause. Federal preemption of state (Lawrence Sager);
law. Uniform laws in the US. The UCC. The USC. Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Section 2

2. The US Congress. U.S. Constitution;

Lowi, Chapter 5

7. Wednesday, 1. The US President: expressed and implied U.S. Constitution;

October 7 powers. Federal agencies. Elections in the US. Lowi, “The Presidency” and
Selected Pages 293-327;
Lowi, Selected Pages 215-
221
Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Chapter
1 Section 5

2. Branches of law. Classification. Civil law v. To be provided;

Criminal law. Scope of each branch. Legal Bruce, Unit 1.3;
practice. Templeman 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5;
Slapper & Kelly, chapter 3;
Clarkson et al., Unit 1,
Section 4
Clarkson et al., Unit 1, Chapter
1 Section 5

8. Wednesday, 1. 1st test resit

October 14

10. Wednesday, 1. US and state courts. Lowi, Selected Pages 328-

October 21 375;
Clarkson, chapter 2

2. UK Courts. Judicial review. Slapper & Kelly, chapter 3.1,

3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.8,
3.14, 3.15, 3.16 (3.16.1,
3.16.2), 3.17 (3.17.1, 3.17.2);
Bruce, unit 2.1, 2.2;
Slapper& Kelly, 3.13
Bruce, 2.3, 2.4
Templeman, Ch. 3
Barnett, (10th Edition), chapter
23

11. Wednesday, 2nd test

October 28

12. Wednesday, 1. The legislative process in the UK and the US U.S. Constitution;
November 4 Bruce, Unit 1;
Barnett, chapter 14 (10th
Edition);
Lowi, selected pages 182-239
School of Law
Law I - 3037
Professor: Sergio Murias
Assistant Professor: Déborah Kamelman
Teaching Assistants: Gina Tangari – Mariana Foglia – Rocío Borello Oviedo

13. Wednesday, 2nd test - resit

November 11

14. Wednesday, Civil rights

November 18

15. Wednesday, Final exam

November 25