UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF LAW FALL SEMESTER 2017 Course: Instructor: International Law 729-512 and 729-512G PROFESSOR Mortimer Sellers CONTACT INFORMATION: 410.837.4650 / AL 527 / msellers@ubalt.edu FACULTY ASSISTANT: Laurie Schnitzer / AL 1008 / (lschnitzer@ubalt.edu) OFFICE HOURS: Monday, 2:45pm 3:30pm, Wednesday, 7:30-8:30pm (or by appointment) Days/Time: Location: Monday & Wednesday / 6:15-7:30pm Room assignments are available through MyUB. (subject to change) Course Description: This course deals with the nature, sources and operation of international law, with some of the major modern challenges to the international legal system, and with the international community s ongoing responses to those challenges. It includes an introductory survey of a wide range of topics such as the law governing treaties and other international agreements; the recognition of states and governments; litigation in the International Court of Justice and other methods of resolving international disputes; the United Nations and other international and regional entities; human rights; the role of international law in the U.S. legal system and the allocation of foreign affairs powers between the President, the Congress, and the Judiciary. The course also includes a more detailed examination of a few of the most pressing illustrations of the operation or failure to operate of the international legal system, such as the law of the sea and the use of military force. Course Materials: Lori Damrosch, Louis Henkin, Sean Murphy, Hans Smit, International Law: Cases and Materials (West, 6 th ed. 2014). Student Learning Outcomes: Students will learn the basic principles, doctrine, and history of public international law. They will become proficient in discerning those rules of conduct which reason deduces as consonant to justice from the nature of the society existing among independent nations, and in applying international conventions, the general principles of law recognized by civilized nations, the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations and international custom, to determine rules of law, whether general or particular, that govern the international community of persons and states. Grades: Grades will be based on the final examination, but class participation may affect a student s grade by up to one grade level. There will be an in-class practice mid-term examination. Participation will be graded for knowledge, lucidity, and preparation. 1
Course Expectations: You are expected to complete all reading assignments before class and to participate consistently in class discussion to demonstrate that you have read and reflected on the issues raised in the assignment.) Attendance: Class attendance is a primary obligation of each student whose right to continued enrollment in the course and to take the examination is conditioned upon a record of attendance satisfactory to the professor. All students must attend all classes, and may only miss classes in exigent circumstances by permission of the instructor. A student who exceeds the maximum allowed absences (generally 20% of class sessions) as illustrated below may be compelled to withdraw from the course, or may be barred from sitting for the final exam. Students who are forced to withdraw for exceeding the allowed absences may receive a grade of FA (failure due to excessive absence). This policy is consistent with American Bar Association Standards for Law Schools. Regular Semester Hours Credit Hours Meetings Per Week 1 2 2 2 absences 5 absences 3 2 absences 5 absences 4 -- 5 absences Course Website: This course has a TWEN page that links to this syllabus, announcements, the class assignments, and other class materials. You are responsible for self-enrolling in the TWEN page and for checking it regularly for course information. Computers: Students may use laptop computers for class related purposes during class meetings, unless instructed otherwise. Class Cancellation: If the instructor must cancel a class, notices will be sent to students via email and posted on the classroom door. If there is inclement weather, students should visit the University of Baltimore web site or call the University's Snow Closing Line at (410) 837-4201. If the University is open, students should presume that classes are running on the normal schedule. Academic Integrity: Students are obligated to refrain from acts that they know or, under the circumstances, have reason to know will impair the academic integrity of the University and/or School of Law. Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating, plagiarism, misuse of materials, inappropriate communication about exams, use of unauthorized materials and technology, misrepresentation of any academic matter, including attendance, and impeding the Honor Code process. The School of Law Honor Code and information about the process is available at http://law.ubalt.edu/academics/policiesandprocedures/honor_code/. Title IX Sexual Misconduct and Nondiscrimination Policy: The University of Baltimore s Sexual Misconduct and Nondiscrimination policy is compliant with Federal laws prohibiting discrimination. Title IX requires that faculty, student employees and staff members report to the university any known, learned or rumored incidents of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, stalking on the basis of sex, dating/intimate partner violence or sexual exploitation and/or related experiences or incidents. Policies and procedures related to Title IX and UB s nondiscrimination policies can be found at: http://www.ubalt.edu/titleix. 2
Disability Policy: If you are a student with a documented disability who requires an academic accommodation, please contact Leslie Metzger, Director of Student Services, at 410-837-5623 or lmetzger@ubalt.edu. CLASS SCHEDULE: The class schedule may be modified to reflect contemporary international issues. Specific assignments will be given at the beginning of each class meeting. Week 1 Monday, August 21 The Nature and Origins of Int l Law Wednesday, August 23 Week 2 Monday, August 28 Sources and Evidence of Int l Law Wednesday, August 30 Monday, September 4 No Class Labor Day Week 3 Wednesday, September 6 Treaties and Agreements Week 4 Monday, September 11 States and Territory Wednesday, September 13 Week 5 Monday, September 18 International Organizations Wednesday, September 20 Week 6 Monday, September 25 Individuals & Corporations Wednesday, September 27 Week 7 Monday, October 2 International Peace and Security Wednesday, October 4 Week 8 Monday, October 9 Human Rights and Fundamental Wednesday, October 11 Freedoms Week 9 Monday, October, 16 The Self-Determination of Peoples Wednesday, October 18 Week 10 Monday, October 23 The Domestic Jurisdiction of States Wednesday, October 25 Week 11 Monday, October 30 The Peaceful Settlement of Disputes Wednesday, November 1 Week 12 Monday, November 6 International Criminal Law Wednesday, November 8 Week 13 Monday, November 13 The Law of the Sea Wednesday, November 15 3
Week 14 Monday, November 20 The Future of International Law Week 15 Monday, November 27 Review and Conclusion CLASS READING ASSIGNMENTS: Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3 Topic 4 Topic 5 Topic 6 Topic 7 Topic 8 The Nature and Origins of International Law Class 1: Casebook, pp. xvii-xxix, 1-13 Class 2: Casebook, pp. 17-42 Sources and Evidence of International Law Class 3: Casebook, pp. 57-84 Class 4: Casebook, pp. 85-111 Treaties and Agreements Class 5: Casebook, pp. 117-141 Class 6: Casebook, pp. 281-284, 217-226, 238-246 States and Territory Class 7: Casebook, pp. 288-304,359-371 Class 8: Casebook, pp. 387-411 International Organizations Class 9: Casebook, pp. 413-432 Class 10: pp. 433-459 Individuals and Corporations Class 11: pp. 468-490 Class 12: Casebook, pp. 1087-1111 International Peace and Security Class 13: Casebook, pp. 1121-1143 Class 14: Casebook, pp. 915-941 Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Class 15: Casebook, pp. 942-969 Class 16: Casebook, pp. 307-329 Topic 9 Topic 10 Topic 11 The Self-Determination of Peoples Class 17: Casebook, pp. 1152-1174 Class 18: Casebook, pp. 621-645 The Domestic Jurisdiction of States Class 19: Casebook, pp. 647-679 Class 20: Casebook, pp. 531-556 The Peaceful Settlement of Disputes Class 21: Casebook, pp. 559-583 4
Class 22: Casebook, pp. 1295-1320 Topic 12 Topic 13 Topic 14 International Criminal Law Class 23: Casebook, pp. 1328-1351 Class 24: Casebook, pp. 1353-1378 The Law of the Sea Class 25: Casebook, pp. 1383-1406 Class 26: Casebook, pp. 1467-1491 The Future of International Law Class 27: Casebook, pp. 1493-1508 Class 28: No assignment 5