Fall 2012
    Law No.: LAW9074
    Sched. No.: 112820635

Legislative Drafting and Public Policy*
Section 1
X
Kneedler, H L.



Administrative Information:
During SIS enrollment, check on SIS for real-time enrollment numbers
Days, Times (Room):WR, 1930-2200 (WB127)
Credits:3Type:Seminar
Capacity:12 **This information is current as of 05/20/2013 06:17:38 AM**
Current Enrollment:9 **This information is current as of 05/20/2013 06:17:38 AM**

Course Description:

The seminar will meet August 29 and 30 and September 5 and 6. We then take a five-week break for students to complete their research papers. The course will then resume after the fall break and meet for student presentations of their legislative proposals on as many Wednesdays and Thursdays through December 5, except for the Thanksgiving week, as are necessary for there to be one class scheduled for each student presentation.

Each student will draft legislation and supporting documentation on an issue of particular interest to the student. Where possible, students will be put in touch with a member of the Virginia General Assembly or a staff member of the Division of Legislative Services (Virginia’s legislative drafting office) who is interested in the issue being researched by the student. Topics researched by students in past semesters have included: domestic violence, euthanasia, affirmative action, two-term Governor in Virginia, sexual harassment, gun control, recycling, oil spill liability, migrant farm workers, hostile corporate takeovers, sexually transmitted diseases, fetal abuse, dram shop legislation, non-tidal wetlands, animal rights, campaign finance reform, conflicts of interest, joint custody, criminal record checks for child care workers, drug testing of public employees, surrogate parenting, workfare, the State lottery, hate-violence, and landlord-tenant law revisions. Each student will be required to prepare a draft statute (either something original or amendments to an existing statue), and a supporting commentary of usual seminar paper length. The first class meeting will be an introductory session. The next three sessions will cover political theory, lobbying, and statutory interpretation problems and techniques. The remaining sessions will be devoted to consideration of specific legislative proposals prepared by students in the class. Each student presentation session will be conducted in the format of a legislative committee debate. All students will be expected to have read each proposal and supporting commentary. The student who prepared the proposal will present it for adoption, making whatever oral presentation in favor of the proposal he or she wishes. The remainder of the session will be devoted to a “committee” debate of the issue, with a view towards adopting the proposal or some amended version thereof. Following the session at which his or her proposal is discussed, each student will be required to prepare a final draft of his or her legislative proposal (not a re-write of the research paper) that incorporates amendments adopted by a majority vote of the “committee.”

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT: Enrolled students who do not attend the first class session will be dropped. Students seeking to enroll in this course must attend the first class session.
COURSE REQUIREMENT: A research paper, a final draft of a legislative proposal, and a class presentation. NOTE: Students who have satisfied the professional skills requirement prior to fall 2012, may petition the instructor to use this seminar to satisfy the upper-level writing requirement by submitting a completed Writing Requirement Intent Form to the Student Records Office no later than October 3, 2012 - retroactive exceptions will not be granted.

This course is on the professional skills course list.