If you want to write a research paper instead of the final exam, you must:

1) write seven (7) satisfactory short reaction papers by the end of the semester
2) tell me which paper topic you wish to write on no later than Monday, 4/12
3) give me a list of sources by Monday, 4/19
4) meet with me at least once by Friday, 4/30, to discuss your progress.
5) give me the final draft of the paper by Wednesday, 5/12

These deadlines are firm. Failure to meet these deadlines will result in a lower grade for the paper or my refusal to accept it, whichever I deem appropriate in the circumstances. The paper must be 10 -- 15 pages long with normal fonts and margins. You must use the full text of at least two Supreme Court opinions (or lower court opinions where appropriate) and at least three secondary sources, all of which must be either academic books or published academic articles. I am happy to read drafts of the papers, but only until Friday, 4/30. You are well advised to have a draft of the paper by that time!

1) Does the war on terrorism change the debate over racial profiling? Does the war on terrorism change the debate over "expectations of privacy"? If so, how? If not, why not?

2) Critics have argued that the Rehnquist Court’s approach to criminal justice issues has been harmful to racial minorities in particular. Do you agree with this charge? Discuss this question with reference to at least two areas of constitutional law that we have on the syllabus for the last half of the course.

3) In light of recent Supreme Court doctrine, what options do localities have if they want to regulate the pornography industry? What concerns does such regulation raise? How should the judiciary allocate the burdens of proof with respect to the "secondary effects" of pornographic businesses? Has the Court struck a good balance in this area of the law? How does this balance compare with the allocation of burdens of proof in the area of takings law?