Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases from Coursera

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Syllabus

The Constitution and Three Branches of Government

Classes 1, 2, and 3 discuss why we need a Constitution and the history that preceded its drafting. You will learn about the two conflicting lessons the founders learned from the Revolution and the failure of the Articles of Confederation: the national government can become a tyrant if it is too strong, but the nation will fall apart if it is too weak. These lectures explore how the drafters sought to balance these concerns in the original Constitution and the many compromises it contains. You will also learn about two approaches to interpreting the Constitution: Originalism and Living Constitutionalism. Classes 4, 5, and 6 explore the powers of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government and the separation of powers between those branches. The Framers gave the federal government limited powers, and divided those powers among the three branches in order to protect individual liberty and state authority.

Amendments and the First Amendment

This segment first explores constitutional amendments, including the Bill of Rights, and the Reconstruction and Progressive-era Amendments. Then, we will take a detailed look at one of the most important amendments: the First. We will learn about the constitutional protections for speech and religion, how they have changed over time, and how they apply to various circumstances. Finally, we will learn about the Establishment Clause and what it means in today's society.

Criminal Procedure and Federalism and Nationalism

We begin here by looking at another group of very important constitutional provisions: the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, which guarantee rights to individuals accused of committing crimes. These amendments protect us against unreasonable searches, ensure our right to remain silent in the face of police questioning, and allow us to demand the assistance of counsel and trial by jury. These rights are fundamental to our system of criminal justice. Then we will shift our focus to examining the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, and incorporation. We will also discuss the Ninth and Tenth Amendments, unenumerated rights, and states' rights, and finish by considering the implications of the Civil War and Reconstruction for the balance of power between the federal government and the states.

The Fourteenth Amendment and Modern Controversies

The first three lessons consider the equal protection and due process clauses of the 14th Amendment. We will begin by discussing race discrimination and the anti-classification and anti-subordination perspectives on equal protection. Next, we will discuss sex discrimination and the right to an abortion derived from the due process clause. Finally, we will examine discrimination based on sexual orientation, and the social progression of major civil rights movements in the United States. The final three lessons in this module consider some modern constitutional controversies. First, we will learn about presidential war powers. Next, we will analyze free speech in the context of campaign finance reform. Finally, we will discuss federal legislative power with a focus on health care reform.

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An ideal course for a history buff, constitutional law scholar, or political science lover

Develops knowledge of US constitutional history, its amendment and key cases

Taught by Professor Kermit Roosevelt, III, an experienced constitutional law expert

Examines modern constitutional controversies, such as the Second Amendment, federal legislative power, and campaign finance reform

Covers a wide range of important constitutional provisions, such as the First, Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Ninth, Tenth, and Fourteenth Amendments

May require students to have some background knowledge of US history and government

Reviews summary

Well-received course on constitutional concepts

Learners say this course is well received and is an excellent introduction to the key concepts of constitutional law. The course is organized well and offers many additional resources to help students deepen their knowledge. Students especially appreciated the course's balance of historical and contemporary perspectives on constitutional law.

The course's content and resources are well organized.

"The course is well organized"

"There are many extra activities and readings"

The course presents a range of perspectives on constitutional law.

"There were also points that were discussed that showed many different perspectives and points of view"

"The historical elements and key court cases were presented fairly in an unbiased manner"

Students are very satisfied with this course.

"First rate class"

"I really enjoyed this course"

"I'd highly recommend it"

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 Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases with these activities:

Find a Mentor in the Legal Field

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A mentor can provide you with guidance and support as you navigate your legal studies and prepare for a career in the field.

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Identify individuals in the legal field who have experience and expertise in constitutional law.
Reach out to potential mentors and express your interest in learning from them.
Establish a regular meeting schedule and discuss your career goals, academic progress, and any challenges you face.

Read "The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court"

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This book provides an in-depth look at the inner workings of the Supreme Court and the justices who serve on it.

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Purchase or borrow the book.
Read the book carefully, taking notes on key concepts and important cases.
Discuss the book with your classmates or a study group.

Watch Lectures on Constitutional Law

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Watching lectures can help you reinforce your understanding of the course material and gain additional insights from experts in the field.

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Search for online lectures or videos on constitutional law topics.
Watch the lectures and take notes on key concepts.
Review your notes and reflect on the material.

Five other activities

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Join a Study Group

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Discussing the course material with peers can help reinforce your understanding and identify areas where you need additional support.

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Find a group of classmates who are also interested in forming a study group.
Establish a regular meeting schedule.
Take turns leading discussions on different topics related to the course material.
Quiz each other on key concepts.

Create a Timeline of Cases that interpret the U.S. Constitution

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Creating a timeline will help you visualize the evolution of constitutional interpretation by the Supreme Court.

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Identify the key landmark Supreme Court cases interpreting the U.S. Constitution.
Organize the cases chronologically.
Write a brief summary of each case, including the issue, the decision, and the rationale.

Practice Analyzing Constitutional Law Cases

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Practice is essential for developing your analytical skills in constitutional law.

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Find past Supreme Court cases or practice problems related to the course material.
Read the case or problem carefully and identify the legal issues involved.
Apply the relevant constitutional principles to analyze the legal issues.
Write a brief summary of your analysis, including your reasoning and conclusions.

Compilation of Notes, Assignments, Quizzes, and Exams

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This compilation will serve as a valuable resource for studying for exams and reviewing course material.

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Organize your notes, assignments, quizzes, and exams in a logical manner.
Create a table of contents or index for easy reference.
Review your compilation regularly and add any new material as needed.

Volunteer at a Legal Aid Clinic

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Volunteering at a legal aid clinic will provide you with practical experience in applying constitutional principles to real-world legal issues.

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Find a legal aid clinic in your area that provides services related to constitutional law.
Contact the clinic and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Assist attorneys and clients with legal research, document preparation, and other tasks.

Career center

Learners who complete Introduction to Key Constitutional Concepts and Supreme Court Cases will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Historian

Historians study the Constitution and Supreme Court cases in order to understand the history of the United States. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will be helpful if you want to pursue a career as a historian. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Political Scientist

Political scientists study the Constitution and Supreme Court cases in order to understand how the government works. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will be helpful if you want to pursue a career as a political scientist. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Lawyer

Lawyers analyze the Constitution and Supreme Court cases as part of their daily work, and a strong understanding of these concepts can help you build a successful career in law. This course will teach you about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lawyer

Teacher

Teachers who teach civics or history may find this course helpful for understanding the Constitution and Supreme Court cases. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you teach your students about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Journalist

Journalists who cover politics or law may find this course helpful for understanding the Constitution and Supreme Court cases. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you write informed articles about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Constitutional Law Professor

Constitutional law professors who teach about the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in academia. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Constitutional Law Professor

Legislator

Legislators who write laws that affect the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you write informed laws about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legislator

Public Policy Analyst

Public policy analysts who work on issues related to the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in public policy. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Judge

Judges who interpret the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you make informed decisions about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

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Think Tank Researcher

Think tank researchers who work on issues related to the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in think tank research. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Think Tank Researcher

Civil Rights Lawyer

Civil rights lawyers who work on cases involving the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in civil rights law. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Civil Rights Lawyer

Government Relations Manager

Government relations managers who work on issues related to the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in government relations. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Government Relations Manager

Nonprofit Administrator

Nonprofit administrators who work on issues related to the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in nonprofit management. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Nonprofit Administrator

Lobbyist

Lobbyists who work on issues related to the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in lobbying. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lobbyist

Political Consultant

Political consultants who work on campaigns that involve the Constitution and Supreme Court cases may find this course helpful. This course will provide you with a strong foundation in these areas, which will help you build a successful career in political consulting. You'll learn about the history of the Constitution and its amendments, as well as the methods used to interpret it. You'll also learn about the powers of the federal government and individual rights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Consultant