Latinos/as and the Law

• Class number: 19363
• Term: Spring 2010
• Instructor: Blanca Silvestrini

This course focuses on human rights and the diverse experiences of Latino American-descent peoples in American society. It will concentrate on Latinos/as as a case study to explore issues of human rights, citizenship and the persistent inequalities in U.S. society. By looking at the ways in which legal thinking and social action can come together under the human rights framework, the students will examine the successes and shortcomings of American civil rights legislation and litigation in areas such as citizenship rights, educational desegregation, cultural rights and immigration. This approach will also provide an opportunity to critically look at some of the assumptions of claiming rights in American society. The students will analyze themes related to citizenship and the complex ways in which Latinos/as view their rights, immigration law from a social and cultural perspective, and claims of social and economic rights such as education, and health, welfare, among others. These themes will be framed in the context of claiming rights and community agency as different groups construct their relationship with the legal system and frame vernacular constructions of the law. The students will read legal cases together with historical, social, demographic and economic sources, thus developing skills on how to incorporate historical and social science materials in their legal analysis and arguments.

Course Schedule

• Date: Monday 2:00-5:00PM
• Location: ST8

Course Information

• Catalog number-Section number: 7582-01
• Course Type: Seminar
• Prerequisites: May Satisfy Writing Req.
• Credits (min/max): 3/3
• Subjects:
  • Constitutional

Enrollment

• Enrollment status: Closed
• Current enrollment/capacity: 16/18
• Reserve population/capacity: 0/0
• Waitlist enrollment/capacity: 2/50

Grading

• Grade basis: Graded
• Satisifies Writing Requirement: UCWR
• Exam type: NO EXAM