Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law – Individual Rights and Liberties from Coursera

Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law: Individual Rights and Liberties will highlight the construction and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution through the centuries with an emphasis on protections of individual liberties and the evolution of equal protection. You'll learn the history behind the Constitution, cases that formed important precedent, and how changes in interpretation have been dependent on shifts in cultural and political climate as well as the composition of the Supreme Court.

In this course we will investigate the protection of individual rights and liberties and take a look at what rights are and are not protected and investigate several important shifts in jurisprudence. We'll begin by examining the structure of the Constitution's protection of individual rights. We'll then examine the circumstances under which, various rights and liberties can be regulated by the federal, state, and local government. We'll examine when the government can permissibly treat people unequally and when it can't. In our final two lectures, we'll take a close look at what is probably the most famous amendment to the Constitution, the First Amendment.

Join me as we look at the questions both raised and answered by the Constitution and those that interpret it!

By the end of this course, you should be able to:

- Describe the individual liberties protected by the Constitution and account for the history and structure of their protection

- Illustrate compromises found in the Constitution by citing examples and historic background

- Articulate the importance of key cases such as Brown v. Board, Lemon v. Kurtzman, and Lochner v. New York

- Explain how the outcome of cases is often dependent upon the current cultural and political climate as well as the composition of the court by citing particular cases and important shifts in the court's jurisprudence

- Assess the relative suitability of various approaches to constitutional interpretation and analysis

What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome - Let's Get Started

Lecture 6 (in the series) - The Structure of the Constitution's Protection of Individual Liberties

How are individual rights protected? In this module we’ll take a look at three of the structures that protect our individual liberties: the state action doctrine, the application of the bill of rights to the states, and the levels of scrutiny principle.

Lecture 7 (in the series) - Individual Liberties

What rights are enumerated in the Constitution? How has the court's understanding and protection of these rights evolved? In this lecture we'll become familiar with the rights that are both specifically enumerated and implied by the text of the Constitution.

Lecture 8 (in the series) - Equal Protection

In this module we’ll examine how equal protection has been applied to different suspect classifications such as race, gender, citizenship, and more. In addition, we will consider how the court has used levels of scrutiny in order to determine when the government can permissibly discriminate based upon suspect classifications.

Lecture 9 (in the series) - The First Amendment: Expression

Why is freedom of speech protected as a fundamental right? What is its importance? In this module we’ll review four possible answers to this question. We’ll also examine the basic principles that guide the Supreme Court’s methodology when examining questions of free speech. Finally, we’ll take a look at the types of speech that have not been traditionally protected and the limitations that can be imposed on where protected forms of speech can be exercised.

Lecture 10 (in the series) - The First Amendment: Religion

In our final lecture module, we’ll briefly examine the Lemon Test, named after the Lemon v. Kurtzman case in which it was first articulated, to see how the court has evaluated cases regarding the Establishment Clause. We’ll also take a look at how the court decides questions regarding the Free Exercise Clause.

Conclusion

As the course draws to a final close, we would like to thank you for your participation.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines Constitutional Law, which is standard in law and common in political courses

Taught by Erwin Chemerinsky, who is an authoritative legal scholar

Builds a strong foundation for beginners without any foreknowledge needed

Develops skills in Constitutional Law, which are core knowledge for fields like Law and Politics

Requires taking online quizzes and exams, which provides accountability while learning

Reviews summary

Chermerinsky's constitutional law

According to students, Professor Chemerinsky is an experienced professor who teaches individual rights and liberties under the US Constitution. Learners say that his informative lectures are easy to understand, and that he offers engaging assignments. Although there is a complaint about audit restrictions, overall students find this course to be well received and worth attending.

Difficult but rewarding assignments

"Great course but not easy"

"I hope to learn with him again in the future."

"It was a very good learning experience."

Engaging and informative lectures

"I really like it!"

"Loved the informative lectures."

"Chermerinsky's classes were the best that I have taken."

Seasoned professor makes difficult topics easy to understand.

"Erwin is an experienced professor who has a way with the law."

"He explains in a way that would be easy for a lay person to understand."

"Professor Chemerinsky is reputed to be an exceptional lecturer."

Audit restrictions prevent completion

"There is no such thing as auditing these marvelous constitution classes."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law – Individual Rights and Liberties with these activities:

Review key concepts of political science

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Review key concepts of political science, such as constitutions, rights, and governance, to refresh your understanding and prepare for the course.

Browse courses on Political Science

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Identify key concepts
Read relevant materials
Take practice quizzes

Review 'Constitutional Law for a Changing America' by Chemerinsky

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Provides a comprehensive overview of the major concepts and issues in constitutional law, giving you a better foundation for the material studied in the course.

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Purchase the book and find a quiet place to read.
Read the introduction and first chapter to get an overview of the book's structure and main arguments.
Read the remaining chapters, taking notes on the key concepts and ideas discussed in each chapter.
Summarize the main points of each chapter in your own words.

Review 'First Amendment Law Handbook' by Rodney Smolla

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Provides an in-depth understanding of the First Amendment and its application to various areas of law, complementing the course material on freedom of speech and religion.

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Purchase the book and find a quiet place to read.
Read the introduction and first chapter to get an overview of the book's structure and main arguments.
Read the remaining chapters, taking notes on the key concepts and ideas discussed in each chapter.
Summarize the main points of each chapter in your own words.

Six other activities

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Follow online tutorials on specific constitutional law topics

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Provides additional support and clarification on specific topics covered in the course, enhancing your understanding and retention of the material.

Browse courses on Constitutional Law

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Identify specific topics that you need additional help with.
Search for online tutorials that cover those topics.
Follow the tutorials and take notes on the key points.

Join a study group with other students taking the course

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Helps you stay accountable, share knowledge, and learn from others' perspectives, improving your overall understanding of the course material.

Browse courses on Constitutional Law

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Find other students who are taking the course.
Schedule regular meetings to discuss the course material.
Work together to complete assignments and prepare for exams.

Practice applying the levels of scrutiny to different situations

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Deepens your understanding of how different levels of scrutiny are applied in constitutional law, improving your ability to analyze real-world cases.

Browse courses on Equal Protection

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Identify a real-world case involving a constitutional issue.
Determine the level of scrutiny that applies to the case.
Apply the appropriate level of scrutiny to the case.

Create a compilation of legal resources on a specific constitutional law topic

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Enhances your research skills and deepens your understanding of a specific constitutional law topic by compiling relevant legal resources in one place.

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Choose a specific constitutional law topic to focus on.
Use legal databases and other resources to search for relevant legal materials.
Organize the materials into a coherent and accessible format.

Write a legal brief analyzing a Supreme Court case on individual liberties

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Provides an opportunity to apply your knowledge of constitutional law and legal analysis to a real-world case, enhancing your understanding of the practical implications of these concepts.

Browse courses on Supreme Court

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Choose a Supreme Court case involving individual liberties.
Research the case and its legal history.
Write a legal brief that analyzes the case's legal issues and arguments.

Contribute to an open-source project related to constitutional law

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Provides practical experience in applying your knowledge of constitutional law to real-world problems, enhancing your technical skills and demonstrating your commitment to the field.

Browse courses on Open Source

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Identify an open-source project related to constitutional law.
Contact the project maintainers and express your interest in contributing.
Work on a specific task or issue within the project.

Career center

Learners who complete Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law – Individual Rights and Liberties will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Constitutional Law Scholar

Constitutional Law Scholars research, analyze, and write about constitutional law. They publish their work in scholarly journals and books, and they present their findings at conferences and other professional activities. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Constitutional Law Scholars who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Constitutional Law Scholar

Judge

Judges preside over trials and make legal decisions. They interpret laws and regulations, and they apply them to the facts of each case. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Judges who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Law Professor

Law Professors teach law to students at universities and law schools. They write and publish scholarly articles, and they participate in conferences and other professional activities. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Law Professors who need to understand the legal framework in which they teach and research. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Civil Rights Lawyer

Civil Rights Lawyers represent clients in cases involving discrimination, voting rights, and other civil rights issues. They help clients enforce their rights and protect them from discrimination. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Civil Rights Lawyers who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Lawyer

Lawyers advise and represent clients in legal matters. They help clients understand their legal rights and options, and they negotiate and draft legal documents. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Lawyers who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Legal Researcher

Legal Researchers conduct legal research and analysis to support lawyers and other legal professionals. They help identify and summarize relevant laws, regulations, and case law. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Legal Researchers who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Prosecutor

Prosecutors represent the government in criminal cases. They investigate crimes, file charges, and try cases in court. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Prosecutors who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Public Defender

Public Defenders represent criminal defendants who cannot afford to hire a lawyer. They help clients understand their rights and options, and they negotiate and draft legal documents. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Public Defenders who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Policy Analyst

Policy Analysts research, analyze, and evaluate public policies. They make recommendations to policymakers on how to improve policies and programs. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Policy Analysts who need to understand the legal framework in which policies are developed and implemented. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Legislator

Legislators make laws and policies for their constituents. They research, debate, and vote on legislation. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Legislators who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Political Scientist

Political Scientists study politics and government. They research, analyze, and write about political institutions, processes, and behavior. A course on constitutional law may be useful for Political Scientists who need to understand the legal framework in which political systems operate. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Journalist

Journalists research, write, and report on news and current events. They may specialize in a particular area, such as politics, law, or economics. A course on constitutional law may be useful for Journalists who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Historian

Historians research, analyze, and write about the past. They may specialize in a particular period or region. A course on constitutional law may be useful for Historians who need to understand the legal framework in which historical events took place. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Legal Assistant

Legal Assistants perform a variety of duties to support lawyers. They help prepare legal documents, conduct research, manage case files, and communicate with clients. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Legal Assistants who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

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Paralegal

Paralegals assist lawyers with a variety of legal tasks, including preparing legal documents, conducting research, and managing case files. A course on constitutional law can be useful for Paralegals who need to understand the legal framework in which they work. It can also help them develop the research and analytical skills necessary to succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paralegal