Introduction to US Constitutional Law

Catalog description

This course provides an introduction to the United States Constitution and the principles of constitutional law. Using landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the development of constitutional law in the United States, students will gain familiarity with legal arguments and understand historical, political, social, and moral dimensions of the American constitutional structure. The course will explore the structure of the Constitution, the powers of the federal government, and the relationship between the federal government and the states. The course will also cover the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment (including Due Process and Equal Protection), including the protections afforded by these amendments and the ways in which they have been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Throughout the course, students will engage with key constitutional concepts, including federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights.