Government Secrecy – 6804

Fall 2015
Heidi Kitrosser

This course introduces studentsto major mechanisms by which the executive branch of the federal governmentkeeps secrets, including the classification system, the doctrines of executiveprivilege and state secrets privilege, and prosecuting informationleakers.  The course also introducesstudents to some of the major means by which secrecy is challenged, includingthe Freedom of Information Act, first amendment access and newsgatheringclaims, and whistleblower protection laws. Throughout the semester, we will discuss a number of recurring themesincluding the connection between government secrecy and constitutional theoriesof presidential power, the politics of secrecy and transparency and the role ofconstitutional discourse in the same, and the costs and benefits of secrecy andtransparency.