HLS 2002: American Indian Law

Semester: 

Fall

Offered: 

2020

Robert Anderson (Oneida Nation Law Chair at HLS) 
Monday/Tuesday 3:20 PM – 4:50 PM 

Students in this class will study the colonization process leading to the present day status of Indian tribes as sovereigns within the United States. We will study the policies, statutes, and caselaw that makes up the fabric of federal Indian law. Equal protection, congressional power and preemption of state law are doctrines involved in nearly every case concerning tribal sovereignty and property rights in the 21st Century. Students will explore and understand the source and nature of Indian sovereignty, the relative powers of tribes, states and the federal government within Indian country, as well as the various property rights possessed by tribes and their citizens. The course grade will be based on a final exam.