Eleventh Amendment

This exercise is designed for use in conjunction with any Federal Courts, Federal Jurisdiction, or Civil Rights course that covers the Eleventh Amendment. The exercise takes the student through attempts to bring a federal lawsuit to rectify substandard conditions at a home for the mentally ill. The lesson is best used as a review by students who have already studied this material.

Learning Outcomes

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

1. Explain the Court's holding in Edelman v. Jordan, 415 U.S. 651 (1974).
2. Discuss when Congress can abrogate Eleventh Amendment immunity.
3. Explain the significance of Welch v. Texas Department of Highways, 483 U.S. 468 (1987), on Eleventh Amendment litigation.