This course presents a comprehensive survey of the U.S. Constitution with special attention devoted to the first ten Amendments, also known as the Bill of Rights. Since the Constitution is primarily a legal document, the class will adopt a legal approach to constitutional interpretation. However, as the historical and political context of constitutional interpretation is inseparable from the legal analysis, these areas will also be covered. Significant current developments in constitutional jurisprudence will also be examined. The first part of the course deals with Articles I through III of the Constitution, which specify the division of national governmental power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. Additionally, the federal nature of the American governmental system, in which governmental authority is apportioned between the national government and the state governments, will be studied. The second part of the course examines the individual rights specifically protected by the amendments to the Constitution, principally the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments.

Professor: Mr. Rich Levine
Prerequisite: LAIS 100
Pre- or Co-requisite: SYGN 200
Semester Hours: 3