Seminar:adv Topics in First Amedment Law

This seminar will involve an in-depth exploration of various contemporary First Amendment themes and problems focusing on the protections of free speech, free press, freedom to petition and freedom of religion, and government regulation of these rights. Topics for study will include: incitement of violence, hate speech, commercial speech, sexual speech, aesthetic zoning, campaign finance restrictions, lobbying regulation, public subsidies and speech, religious speech in public spaces, privacy and speech, and regulation of new media.

Grading and Method of Evaluation:
Letter grade. Each student will prepare and present a paper exploring a contemporary aspect of one of these various topics. Students will be permitted to request that their papers be eligible to satisfy the Upper Class Writing Requirement.