We find that (2+1)-dimensional QED has the identical structure of phase-space constraints whether or not one includes the anomalous Chern-Simons mass term for the photon field. This is in contrast with the anomalous chiral Schwinger model in 1+1 dimensions, where the presence of an anomaly is known to have the impact of changing the nature of the constraints from being first class to second class.

• Received 9 February 1987

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.35.3270