Public Law
MPA Elective Fall 2003
This is the final
syllabus.
NOTE: There is an assignment to complete BEFORE the first
class October 2:
Read Levi's An Introduction to Legal Reasoning. Type a one-page summary
of the main points you learn from Levi. Bring your summary to class Thursday,
October 2.
Thursday,
October 2
Welcome and introductions. Discuss syllabus and expectations. Discuss
Levi and your summary of learning.
GUEST: 7:30 p.m. Justice Bobbe J. Bridge, Washington State Supreme Court
TOPIC: How do the courts affect public administration?
Thursday,
October 9
Reading assignment: Law 101 Read the whole book, but spend just enough
time on the sections that do not directly apply to public administration
to be able to do the exercise at the end of the book, pages 337-338.
Writing assignment: Complete the exercise and bring it to class for discussion.
GUEST: Leslie Goldstein, Leadership Counsel, Washington State Senate
TOPIC: How do you read the law--constitutions, statutes, rules, court
cases?
Thursday,
October 16
Reading assignment:
Nutshell 237 - 390
VII Formal Adjudications
VIII Procedural Shortcuts
IX Rules and Rulemaking (Handbook Chapter 13)
X Obtaining Judicial Review
Handbook 225 - 236, 440 - 451
Chapter 13 Negotiated Rulemaking
Chapter 25 The Balancing Act of Judicial Review
GUEST: 6:00 p.m. Linda Moran, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Chief
of Licensing and Administrative Law
TOPIC: What do you need to know about rules, rulemaking and judicial review?
Thursday, October 23
Reading assignment:
1. Handbook 1-120.
Part One: Public Law Foundations of American Public Administration
Part Two: Practical Frameworks of Public Law and Administration
(Compare Chapter 6 to Levi.)
2. Nutshell 1-70
I The Delegation of Authority to Agencies
II Political Controls Over Agency Action
GUEST: 9:00 p.m. Alan Miller, attorney, former President, Thurston County
United Way
TOPIC: What do you need to know about law in the non-profit sector?
Thursday, October 30
Reading Assignment:
1. Handbook 121 - 183,185 - 224, 237 -253
Part Three: Who Has the Power and Where Are the Limits?
Part Four: Administrative Law and Today's Street-Level Challenges (minus
Chapters 13 and 25)
Guest: Jennifer Joly, Counsel to Governor Locke
Topic: What 's the best way to seek and use advice from an attorney?
Thursday,
November 6
Reading Assignment:
1. Handbook 376 - 399
Part Six, Chapter 22 Open Government and Freedom of Information
2. Nutshell 121 - 236
IV Acquiring and Disclosing Information
V The Informal Administrative Process
VI Procedural Due Process
3. RCW 42.17.020, 42.17.250-348, 40.14.100
Writing Assignment: Do the exercise in Law 101 pages 337-338. Bring your
answers to class with notes about how your approach to the problem has
changed since October 9.
GUEST: Marty Lovinger, Washington State Senate Counsel
TOPIC: What should you know about disclosure?
Thursday,
November 13
Reading Assignment:
Handbook 453-587
Part Seven: Law in Public Policy
Guest: Brian Malarky, Executive Director, Washington State Executive Ethics
Board
Topic: What do you need to know about state ethics law?
Thursday,
November 20
Reading Assignment:
1. Handbook 255 - 355
Part Five: Civil Servants, Supervisors, and Changing Law
2. Handbook 357 - 375, 400 - 451
Part Six: Accountability: Law Against Management (minus Chapter 22)
Guest: 6:00 p.m. Dennis Karras, Sr. Vice President for Administration
and Human Resources, Washington State Employee Credit Union, former Director
Washington State Department of Personnel
Topic: How do employment laws affect public administration?
Thursday, November 27 No Class (replaced by court visit
anytime before December 4)
Thursday, December 4
Present your report on your court visit and discuss reports with a panel
of attorneys.
Guests: attorneys chosen based on your interests.
Requirements: Students will attend every class on time and be prepared to participate fully. Any deviation from this requirement must be approved by Nita. Full credit and a positive evaluation depends upon full and timely participation. Partial credit is not an option. Written work must be of the highest quality--clear with accurate grammar and spelling.
Covenant:
Students and faculty will contribute to the learning community by preparing
thoroughly for class,clearly articulating their own views, listening respectfully
to differing views and perspectives and maintaining
a healthy curiosity and open mind.