International Law

Course Calendar (PLS 537: International Law)

January 7 – May 10
International Law
2:30 – 3:20 MWF in Administration 337
Calendar last updated on April 24
January 7 (Monday)
* Note: No Classes Today
January 9 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Introduction to the course
January 11 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Cases, Rules, and Analogies
* Read for today: Burton: Chapters 1 and 2
January 14 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Analogies and Deductions
* Read for today: Burton: Chapters 3 and 4
January 16 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Legal Reasons
* Read for today: Burton: Chapters 5 and 6
January 18 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Judging Cases
* Read for today: Burton: Chapters 7 and 8
January 21 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Legitimacy
* Read for today: Burton: Chapter 10
* Read for today: Press Release (2005/4) of Certain Property, Liechtenstein v. Germany, International Court of Justice
* Holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
January 23 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Sources of International Law
* Discussion Topic: An Example of Reflective Equilibrium
* Major assignment due today:
First Case Brief due
January 25 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Domestic, International, and Intermestic Law
* Discussion Topic: What is International Law?
* Discussion Topic: Is International Law really law? If not, then what is it?
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 1
* Major assignment due today:
Chapter 1 Assignment: Bambi and International Relations
January 28 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: What is the State, and what does it matter?
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 2.1-2.2
January 30 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Changes in the State and their effects
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 2.3-2.5
* Major assignment due today:
Chapter 2 Assignment: The State of Your State
February 1 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Sovereign Immunity
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 2.6
* Read for today: Saudi Arabia v. Nelson 507 US 349 (1993)
February 4 (Monday)
* Quiz: First Major Quiz
February 6 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Organizations in International Law
* Discussion Topic: IGO vs. NGO in International Law
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 3.1, 3.2, 3.6
* Holiday: Ash Wednesday
February 8 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: The Holy See, The Knights of Malta, and Palestine: The Importance of Being Ernest
* Read for today: The Holy See v. Starbright Sales Enterprises, Inc.
* Major assignment due today:
Second Case Brief due
February 11 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Discuss Problem 3.E in class
* Read for today: Look at Problem 3.E for Monday
* Holiday: Founder's Week Mass
February 13 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Legal Personality of Individuals and Corporations in PIL
* Discussion Topic: Activity: Fang
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 4
February 15 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Where is the Internet?
* Discussion Topic: What do we do with those without a state?
* Read for today: The French Yahoo! Judgement (all 5 decisions)
February 18 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: The Belgium War Crimes Law
* Read for today: The Nottebohm Case
February 20 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: International Minimum Standards
* Major assignment due today:
Chapter 4 Assignment: ¡Bienvenido a México!
February 22 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Extraterritorial Jurisdiction
* Read for today: Sale v. Haitian Centers Council, Inc. 509 US 155 (1993)
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 5.1 and 5.2
February 25 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: I'm sick.
February 27 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Extradition and Rendition
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 5.3 and 5.4
February 29 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Kidnapping and Dog
* Read for today: State v. Ebrahim 31 ILM 888 (1992) [Slomanson 255]
* Major assignment due today:
Third Case Brief due
March 3 (Monday)
* Note: Spring Break: No Classes
* Note: Mid-Semester's grade reports due
March 5 (Wednesday)
* Note: Spring Break: No Classes
March 7 (Friday)
* Note: Spring Break: No Classes
March 10 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Categories of Territory
* Discussion Topic: Dominion over Terra Firma
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 6
March 12 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Moon for Sale
* Read for today: Outer Space Treaty, 1967
* Read for today: Moon Treaty, 1979
* Major assignment due today:
Chapter 6 Assignment: X-Rays and North Korea
March 14 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Practicum: Cape Verde
* Major assignment due today:
Fourth Case Brief due
* Holiday: Pi Day
* Holiday: Albert Einstein's Birthday
March 17 (Monday)
* Quiz: Second Major Quiz
* Holiday: St. Patrick's Day
March 19 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: The Diplomatic System
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 7
March 21 (Friday)
* Holiday: Purim
* Holiday: Holy Friday recess
March 24 (Monday)
* Note: Last day to withdraw with a 'W'
* Holiday: Easter Monday recess
March 26 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Activity: Smirnov
March 28 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Practicum: ICU
March 31 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Treaties
* Discussion Topic: Executive Orders
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 8
April 2 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Question: What are our duties under Kyoto?
* Read for today: The Kyoto Protocol
* Read for today: The Kyoto Protocol's declarations (at end)
April 4 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Activity
* Major assignment due today:
Fifth Case Brief due
April 7 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: The ICJ
* Discussion Topic: Activity
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 9.4 – 9.6
April 9 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: The ICC
* Read for today: The Rome Statute readings
April 11 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Principles on the use of Force
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 10.1 and 10.2
April 14 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Peacekeeping and Interventions
* Read for today: Catch up on the happenings in Darfur, Sudan
April 16 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: The Laws of War: Why have them?
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 10.3, 10.4, and 10.5
April 18 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Activity
* Read for today: Slomanson: Chapter 10.6 and 10.7
April 21 (Monday)
* Discussion Topic: Activity
* Major assignment due today:
Final Exam Activity
April 23 (Wednesday)
* Discussion Topic: Activity
April 25 (Friday)
* Discussion Topic: Review
April 28 (Monday)
* Note: Semester Exams begin
April 30 (Wednesday)
* Examination: Take-Home Exam due at 2:40pm
* Holiday: Koninginnedag (Queen’s Birthday, Netherlands)
May 2 (Friday)
* Holiday: Vesak
May 5 (Monday)
* Holiday: Cinco de Mayo
May 7 (Wednesday)
* Nothing for today.
May 9 (Friday)
* Note: Baccalaureate Mass