Rights, Liberties and Justice in the U.S.

Modality: Remote-Synchronous The past is never dead. It is not even past. (William Faulkner, Requiem for a Nun, Act I, Scene III) This five-credit interdisciplinary seminar engages students in the processes of critical and reflective thinking, reading and writing. It is a place to explore what these processes are, why they are valued, how they work, and where they fit into a Fairhaven education. This class is a Constitutional Law class. We will read the Federalist papers and the Magna Carta to understand the beginnings of our legal system. We will dissect the US Constitution and learn its structure, federal powers, individual liberty, Due Process and Equal Protection clauses, first amendment speech, religion, and privacy. In the process we will discuss contemporary issues and cases as they are informed by prior cases. Required Texts: Constitutional Law: Principles and Policies, Fifth Edition. Erwin Chemerinsky. Selected Federalist Papers. Dover Thrift Editions 2001. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. Other online materials are assigned. Learning Objectives: -Students explore the foundation documents in the formation of the structure of government in the U.S. -Continue to practice and learn about case reading and case briefing -Expand knowledge of and practice legal research and writing, including APA citation -Explore themes of Rights, Liberties, & Justice historically and in the present time -Understand the connection between the Constitution of the US, case law, and ordinary life -Foster independent researchers and engaged learners -Continued familiarity with how courts use precedent -Practice oral presentations and public speaking -Strengthen critical and analytical skills