Federal Indian Law (Fenton)
Additional Information
Skills Training
Oral Presentations
Expository Writing
Grading
35% Participation,
65% Paper
No
Class meets in person.
Course Continuity
Students are encouraged to stay home if you are ill or experience flu-like symptoms. If you miss a class for any reason, it is still your responsibility to make up the work missed.
I offer the following to students who miss class due to illness:
- When you are better, please make an appointment to meet with me and I will review/answer questions about what you missed.
Meeting Times/Location
T 6:40PM - 8:30PM
Silverman Hall 240A
Category
Upper-Level
Credits
2.0
There are 348 federally recognized Native nations in the lower 48, all of which predate the United States. How does the U.S. Constitution’s recognition of these sovereign entities shape the existence of Native governments and peoples today? This course begins to answer that question by surveying a body of federal law that both shields and limits the sovereignty of these tribal governments. Together we will explore the legal relationships Native nations have with the federal government, state governments, and individuals. In doing so, we will engage with both the historical development of federal Indian law and the contemporary questions it must address, including questions about tribal sovereignty, property, natural resources, gaming, and civil and criminal jurisdiction.
We will learn collaboratively and hear from Indian law practitioners throughout the semester. Students will be tasked with completing weekly reading assignments and actively participating (both in class and online) in our conversations. In lieu of a final exam, students will be asked to author essays exploring an issue of their choosing in federal Indian law.
Textbooks
"American Indian Law: Cases and Commentary" by Anderson, Krakoff, Mills, and Washburn |