The American Legal System (Amerykański system prawny) 4219-SF104

The course is a general overview of the principal features of the American law and the operation of the legal system in the United States. The focus will be placed on the characterization of Anglo-Saxon common law tradition, the examination of main areas of American substantive and procedural law, as well as the analysis of international aspects of American law in relation to processes of globalization and US involvement in foreign politics and foreign military actions. The role of law is central to the American political life. This course seeks to introduce the student to the tradition of Anglo-American law, so students have a better understanding of the foundation upon which American politics rests.

Required Reading
Buckland, William Warwick, and Arnold Duncan McNair Baron McNair. Roman Law and Common Law: A Comparison in Outline. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1965).
“THE COMMON LAW AND CIVIL LAW TRADITIONS” Handout From UC Berkley Course Handout.
Edlin, Douglas E. Judges and Unjust Laws: Common Law Constitutionalism and the Foundations of Judicial Review. (Ann Arbor, Mich: University of Michigan Press, 2008).
Slocum, Robin Wellford. “Introduction to the American Legal System” from Legal Reasoning, Writing, and Other Lawyering Skills (New York: LexisNexis, 2012), pgs 15-33
Jonakait, Randolph N. The American jury system. (New Haven, Ct:Yale University Press, 2003).
Kraśnicka, Izabela. Introduction to the American legal system. (Białystok: Temida 2 Press, 2008).
Kempin, Frederick. Historical introduction to Anglo-American law in a nutshell. (St. Paul, Mn: West Publishing, 1973).
Recommend Reading:
Bork, Robert H. A Country I Do Not Recognize: The Legal Assault on American Values. (Standford, CA: Hoover Press, 2013).
Schweber, Howard. Creation of American Common Law (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004).