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Course Description
Fall 2008
Professor Eric C. Christiansen
Class Meetings: Thursdays: 10:15-11:55pm Office: Rm. 2339 (in Fac. Ctr.), 536 Mission St.
Classroom: Room 3209 Email: echristiansen@ggu.edu
Phone: (415) 369-5338
Text
There is no text book for this course. Your assigned class readings will be included in the two
Comparative Constitutional Design Course Readers or instructions will be provided to you in the
syllabus so you can download the documents yourself.
Office Hours
I enjoy meeting with my students and encourage you to stop by and visit. My scheduled office hours
are Mondays 3:00-4:00pm and Wednesdays 9:30-10:30am; or email me to schedule an appointment at any
other time. When emailing me to request an appointment, please suggest two or three specific times when
you are available. Outside office hours or appointments, you are welcome to knock on my door and see if I
have time to chat. Often I do, and if I do not we can schedule another time.
Grading
Grading for this course will be based on the following:
10% is based on engaged and knowledgeable participation in class discussions.
20% is based on 1-2 page weekly reflection papers and participation in on-line discussion.
20% is based on your in-class presentation of your research paper and your abstract.
50% is based on a final research paper of 9-12 pages, not including footnotes.
Research Paper
The research paper will be a 9-12 page (double-spaced text) formal written project that
represents substantial engagement by you in the chosen topic. The paper will be graded on both form
and substance. Form means that it is carefully written and edited prose typical of formal, academic
writing. (Footnotes, which are not included in the total length, should allow clear attribution and permit
the reader to find the original sources. They need not be in precise bluebook format. Endnotes are
preferred.) Substance means your capacity to present your research and to argue and support your
thesis from available resources.
Each of you will choose your own paper topic. I encourage you to think about your interests
early and then come meet with me to formulate a focused and manageable research topic. Because the
course looks at a variety of historical, legal and comparative sources, I have suggested possible kinds of
papers below (but feel free to propose anything, as long as it is consistent with the course):
Historical paper about a nation's constitutional process (e.g., Iraq, Nepal, Fiji, Canada, etc.);
Comparative (structure): one constitutional design issue in two or three countries;
Comparative (substance): compare a right in two or three countries;
Comparative (procedure): compare the constitution making process of two or more countries; or
Discuss how an element of another country's constitution could improve the U.S. Constitution.
In class-Presentation
Each of you will present your preliminary research and thesis at one class during weeks 11-13.
You may sign up for your presentation day following the first class meeting. On Tuesday of the week of
your presentation, each presenting student should post on TWEN an abstract and outline of their paper.
(We will discuss this requirement further in class.) Each student that is not presenting on that day will
read each posted abstract and outline in order to prepare questions or reflections upon that topic.
Although the non-presenting students should prepare one question or comment for each presenter, they
need only post one (for any one presenter) on the TWEN sitealthough your colleagues will appreciate
it if you post something for each of them.
At that Thursdays class meeting each presenting student will give an 8-10 minute prepared
summary of their paper, research and thesis. Following the presentation, there will be time for questions
and comments that will help you to complete their research or formulate their arguments.
Weekly Timeline
Tuesday by 9pm. Read the weeks assignment and post your 1-2 page reflection paper on
the course TWEN website.
Before Thursdays class Read your colleagues postings from the course. Please post at least one
short response to one of your colleagues reflection papers before class.
Class Participation
Attendance, preparation and active participation are required for each class meeting and will be
critical for your success (as well as being required by the American Bar Association). During class, all
students should be prepared to address the days reading and to participate in discussion. Participation
in class includes listening actively and critically to your colleagues as well as joining the discussion.
Any absence must also be accompanied by an email to me, informing me that you will be/were absent.
Attendance will be checked each class day and your grade may be lowered one-half step (e.g., A to A-;
B- to C) if you miss more than one class without genuinely exceptional justification (sent to me in
writing following the absence) or are repeatedly unprepared or disengaged from discussion.
Website
This class has a Westlaw TWEN website, accessible through your Westlaw account. The site
will contain the official syllabus (which may change from time to time), class announcements, the
detailed reading syllabus, our online class discussion groups, materials posted by you in connection with
course assignments and posted readings.
Class Format
This is a discussion-based seminar. You are expected to read carefully and be prepared to
discuss the readings with your colleagues. Please prepare for class by making notes of your own
responses to the readings and the opinions of your colleagues in relation to the readings. I discourage
you from reading too far ahead, because of the inevitable adjustments and so that you remain focused on
the current topics.
Questions / Feedback
I welcome your input, feedback and suggestions about the course, the topics we cover, or the
manner in which class is conductedespecially in light of some of the more unorthodox methods we are
employing in this class. Please share any constructive comments with me via email or during office
hours. Additionally, I take your views on the course/teacher evaluations quite seriously and appreciate
your thoughtful comments.
Comparative Constitutional Design Seminar
Detailed Reading Syllabus
Fall 2008
Professor Eric C. Christiansen
There is no final exam in this course. Good luck on your other exams.