Constitutional Powers and Structures Review for Family Law

This lesson is intended as an overview of Constitutional Law principles that are important in Family Law. It can be used at the beginning of the Family Law course as a refresher of Constitutional Law. It can also be used during the course to clarify general constitutional doctrine. This lesson is related to two other lessons regarding constitutional aspects of Family Law.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the lesson, the student will be able to:

1. Explain basic doctrines and theories covered in Constitutional Law courses as they apply in the Family Law context.
2. Analyze the Full Faith and Credit Clause that gives a Constitutional basis for conflict of laws and choice of law doctrine.
3. Examine the effect of the state action principle, in which only actions by the government are bound by federal constitutional requirements.