PLS 317
Dr. Aspin (aspin@bradley.edu)
International Law
426E Bradley Hall (ext 2496)
Spring 2007
Office Hours: MWF 10-12
The following may be purchased at the bookstore:
William R. Slomanson, Fundamental Perspectives on International Law, 5th edition
All other materials will be in the library, either on reserve or they are reference materials, or it will be provided on the course home page
http://hilltop/~aspin/317www/index.htm or http://hilltop.bradley.edu/~aspin/317www/index.htm
Your final course grade will be determined by the following weighting of the course requirements:
31.0% Midterm Examination
31.0% Final Examination
20.0% Case Briefs and Treaty Summary
18.0% Class Trial of a Case
The two exams will be a combination of essay and objective questions. Multiple essay questions will be provided before the exams.
You must prepare formal briefs for three cases. A case brief guide details the mechanics of briefing a case. Two of the cases will be selected in class from the provided list of cases. The third case brief can be any other case referenced in the text. One of the two briefs selected from the class list will be presented in class when the major topic the case is associated with is discussed. The other two briefs are due on March 11. For each of the three case briefs you will hand in a hard copy which will be returned and email me a soft copy for archival purposes.
Your two page treaty summary is due no later than March 11. In addition to (1) summarizing the document, (2) indicate if and when it entered into force, (3) what states have signed and ratified it, and (4) what, if any, are the legal obligations of states. You can summarize any multi-lateral international treaty between states available through INTERNET. The course home page contains links to several treaty sites on the WWW.
As part of your class participation, you are expected to read ahead and be prepared to discuss the case abstracts contained in the text.
Details of the class trials will be posted later on a separate page on the course homepage. The class will try two separate cases in international tribunals. For each case there will be a court and two teams of advocates representing the states/individuals involved in the case. Formal oral arguments will be on Saturday May 5. The courts will announce their decisions on Monday May 7.
Examinations:
If you cannot take the midterm exam, you must contact the instructor at least 24 hours before the exam. There will be no make up exam given except under unusual circumstances.
While the date for the midterm exam cannot be set at the beginning of the semester, it will be near the middle of the semester and you will have at least one weeks notice as to the exact date of the exam.
Attendance:
While class attendance is not mandatory, you obviously receive a zero for participation on days you fail to appear.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism, passing off the words and ideas of another as one's own, will result in a grade of zero for the assignment in question.
Academic Accommodations:
All students are expected to meet the standards for this course as set forth herein. However, students with learning disabilities who need accommodations should discuss options with the professor during the first 2 weeks of class and provide documentation and verification of need.
Course Outline and Readings
I Nature and Historical Development of International Law
A. What is it and is it law Ch 1, pp. 1-10, 54-58
B. Sources of Law Ch 1, pp. 10-29; Ch 8, pp. 355-360
C. Historical Origins None
II Subjects of International Law: States and Organizations
A. International Law & Municipal Law Ch 1, pp. 29-54
B. States and Governments Ch 2, pp. 65-90
C. Rights Ch 2, pp. 92-110
D. Duties Ch 2, pp. 91-92
E. Organizations Ch 3; Ch 4, pp. 216-220
F. International Courts Ch 9
III Subjects of International Law: The Individual
A. Individual & Human Rights Ch 4, pp. 191-197: Ch. 11
B. Nationality & Jurisdiction Ch 4, pp. 197-215; Ch 5, pp. 233-248
C. Treatment of Aliens Ch 4, pp. 220-230
D. Extradition Ch 5, pp. 249-261
E. International Criminal Law None
(The midterm exam occurs after the completion of section III)
IV Territorial Questions
A. Territory Ch 6, pp. 267-280
B. National Air and Outer Space Ch 6, pp. 301-318
C. Law of the Sea Ch 6, pp. 281-301
V Peaceful Transactions
A. Diplomats Ch 7
B. Agreements Ch 8
C. Economic Law Ch 13
VI International Environmental Law
Chapter 12
VII Armed Conflict
A. Laws of War Ch 10
B. War Crimes None
VIII Future Prospects for International Law
Larry Aspin aspin at bradley.edu
Dept of Political Science
Bradley University