THE REGULATION OF THE MODERN FAMILY
(LAWI-4240) - 2 UNITS

The American family appears to be undergoing a period of substantial change. The Supreme Court has recognized a constitutional right to same-sex marriage; the law has had to address the rising number of cohabiting couples; and courts are questioning the constitutionality of bans against polygamous marriages. This seminar contextualizes these changes by looking to the evolution of the family unit as told by the legal rules that regulate it. Rather than remain strictly within the discrete realm of family law, this seminar considers how a number of different areas of the law - including immigration law, criminal law, property, trusts and estates - regulate, and in the process define, what constitutes the family. Readings encompass scholarly articles in subjects spanning law, sociology, and history, as well as court opinions, statutes, and news articles.

Pass/Fail:
No

Prerequisites:
None