This seminar explores the fundamental constitutional and legal issues that arise in the national security context. It examines, among other things, the scope of executive wartime power, the role of the courts in times of war, the use of the writ of habeas corpus to challenge unlawful detention, and the rights and experiences of those targeted by governmental national security initiatives. Students will study historical moments, such as the Civil War and World War II, in which these issues are implicated, as well as important post-9/11 developments in the national security arena.