Introduction to International & Comparative Law 

28 Sessions (14 weeks)

Syllabus

1. Making sense of International Law (8/16)
   1. Discussion about current events dealing with international law
2. States as the main pillars of international law (8/18)
   1. Montevideo Convention
   2. International norms on the responsibility of state organs
3. State recognition: Importance and effects in international law (8/23)
   1. Accordance with international law of the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo, International Court of Justice, 22 July 2010
4. Special assignment: Micronations (8/25)
   1. http://money.cnn.com/2015/09/03/news/how-to-run-a-micronation/
5. Non-state actors: Responsibility for violation of international law (8/30)
   1. Kiobel et al v. Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. et al 133 S.Ct. 1659 (2013)
6. International organizations: Responsibility and legal personality of the United Nations (9/1)
   1. Reparation of Injuries Suffered in Service of the United Nations, Advisory Opinion, 1949 International Court of Justice 174 (Apr. 11)
7. Treaties I: Negotiation, and conclusion under United States law (9/6)
   1. Statute of Rome
   2. Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
   3. Clinton's signature of Statute of Rome
   4. Bolton's withdrawal of signature of Treaty of Rome
8. Treaties II: International judicial enforcement (9/8)
   1. Vienna Convention on Consular Relations (Excerpt)
   2. Mexico v. United States (Avena, and 51 other Mexican nationals) Request for the indication of provisional measures (summary of the order)
   3. Mexico v. United States (Avena, and 51 other Mexican nationals) Summary of the judgment of 31 March 2004
9. Treaties III: Judicial enforcement in the United States (9/13)
   1. Letter of U.S. Secretary of State to U.N. Secretary General of March 7, 2005
   2. Memorandum for the Attorney General
   3. Medellín v. Texas, 552 U.S. 491(2008)
10. Treaties IV: Termination (9/15)
    1. Treaty of Lisbon, article 50
    2. U.S. Constitution, Article 2, Section 2
    3. Kucinich v. Bush
11. International courts I: the International Court of Justice (9/20)
    1. Costa Rica v. Nicaragua
12. International courts I: the International Court of Justice-cont'd (9/23)
13. International courts II: the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (9/27)
14. 1. Dusko Tadic case
15. International courts III: the Permanent Court of Arbitration (9/29)
    1. Philippines v. China
16. International courts IV: Investor-State Arbitration (10/4)
    1. Chevron Corp. and Texaco Petroleum Co. v. the Republic of Ecuador, In the matter of an arbitration under the rules of the UNCITRAL
17. Class cancelled-Hurricane Matthew (10/6)
18. Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts I: Foreign Sovereign Immunity (10/11)
    1. Republic of Austria v. Maria V. Altmann
19. Special assignment: Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts II: Act of State Doctrine (10/13)
    1. Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Sabbatino
20. Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts II: Act of State Doctrine (10/13) cont'd.
    
    1. Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Sabbatino
    2. Partial review for exam
21. International perspectives on gun control (10/20)
1. Jonathan Masters, Gun Control Around the World: A Primer, January 12, 2016, The Atlantic. 
22. Make up class: Hurdles faced by international law in United States courts III: Fraud, money laundering, and the extraterritorial application of United States law (10/21)
    1. RJR Nabisco v. European Community, 579 US_____(2016)
23. The war on terror, Congress and the President
1. S.2040 Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act
2. Klinghoffer v. Achille Lauro Lines et al, 937 F.2d 44
3. 22 USC Section 5021
24. Modern warfare (10/27)
    1. Israel targeted killings
25. Human rights in the Americas (11/1)
    1. López Mendoza v. Venezuela
26. Human rights in Europe (11/3)
    1. Soering v. United Kingdom
27. Enemy combatants and prisoners of war (11/8)
    1. Hamdan v. Rumsfeld
28. Special assignment: Piracy (11/10)
    1. United States of America v. Dire et al 680 F.3d 446 (May 23, 2012)
29. Wrap up discussion (11/15)
30. Final review (11/17)