225 sec. 001 - Legislation and Statutory Interpretation (Fall 2026)
Instructor: Bertrall Ross (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only | profile)
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Units: 4
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
MTuTh 2:15 PM - 3:25 PM
Location: Law 110
From August 17, 2026
To November 24, 2026
Course End: November 24, 2026
Class Number: 33023
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 74
Waitlisted: 33
Enroll Limit: 85
As of: 05/18 10:01 PM
This course will introduce students to the legislative process and statutory interpretation. Statutes govern nearly every aspect of our society and our economy, and this course will give students the tools to understand how statutes come to be and how they are interpreted and applied in practice.
The first portion of the course will focus on the legislative process, including Congress’s internal procedures and organization, limits on Congress’s authority, and the role of parties, committees, and interest groups in the lawmaking process. Finally, this part of the course will evaluate state statutory lawmaking through direct democracy (the ballot initiative process). The second portion of the course will turn to statutory interpretation, including theories of statutory interpretation, the use of legislative history, and major canons of construction. The third portion of the class will examine how administrative agencies interpret statutes and how courts approach agency statutory interpretations.
In exploring these topics, the course will reference cases and materials from many substantive areas of law, including criminal law, civil rights law, environmental law, labor and employment law, and public health and safety law. The course will thus provide students with a small taste of many different areas of law.
Exam Notes: (F) In-class Final Exam
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Exam Length: 3 hours
Course Category: Public Law and Policy
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Class materials may also be available on bCourses.berkeley.edu
Readers:
No reader.
Books:
Required Books are in blue
- Legislation and Regulation: Cases and Materials
John F. Manning & Matthew C. Stephenson
Edition: 5th edition
Publisher: Foundation Press
ISBN: 9798892091251
e-Book Available: Yes
e-Book procurement note: https://www.westacademic.com/Manning-and-Stephensons-Legislation-and-Regulation-Cases-and-Materials-5th-9798892091251
Price: $296.00
Note: prices are sampled from internet bookstores. Law-school Bookstore prices are unavailable at this time.