Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law - The Structure of Government from Coursera

This course will highlight the construction and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution through the centuries. 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.

We'll start with an overview of the Constitution where we'll consider questions such as "Why the Constitution?" and "What function does the Constitution serve?" Next we'll examine how the Constitution and its subsequent interpretation established the powers of the federal, legislative, and judicial branches of government and allocated powers to the states.

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 how the structure of the United States government has been shaped by both the text of the Constitution and by subsequent interpretation and practice of political actors in all branches of government

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

- Articulate the importance of key cases such as Marbury v. Madison, McCullough v. Maryland, 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 1 - Why the Constitution?

In this module, we'll examine two facets of the critical question, "Why the Constitution?" First we'll answer the question, "what functions does the Constitution perform?" We'll then consider the question, "why achieve these functions in the form of a written Constitution?"

Lecture 2 - The Federal Judicial Power

What is the authority of judicial review? Why is it important? If the federal judiciary can declare a statute or action unconstitutional, what checks are there on this power? These are several of the questions we will endeavor to answer in this module.

Lecture 3 - The Federal Legislative Power

In this module we will consider three major questions: 1.How did McCullough vs. Maryland shape the power of the legislature? 2. What are the major powers of the Congress under the Constitution? 3. To what extent do states limit the power of the Congress?

Lecture 4 - The Federal Executive Power

The central questions in this module are: 1. When can a president act without express Constitutional or Congressional authority? 2. What are the Constitutional problems posed by the federal administrative agencies? 3. What is the authority of the President with regard to foreign policy?

Lecture 5 - Federalism

The goal of this module is to consider two important ways that the power of states are kept in check by the federal government: preemption and the dormant commerce 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

Develops expertise in interpreting the U.S. Constitution

Taught by Erwin Chemerinsky, a leading expert on constitutional law

Covers key Supreme Court cases that have shaped constitutional interpretation

Explores the interplay between constitutional law and cultural and political shifts

Useful for law students, political science students, and anyone interested in the U.S. Constitution

Requires prerequisites in constitutional law or equivalent knowledge, making it unsuitable for beginners

Reviews summary

Outstanding constitutional course

Learners say Professor Chemerinsky's lectures on constitutional law are well-organized, engaging, and informative. Students remarked that the assignments are difficult but ultimately worthwhile and help them learn key Supreme Court cases. This course is highly recommended for anyone interested in law, government, politics or journalism.

Emphasis on Supreme Court cases

"The Supreme Court cases he explains are fascinating."

"His analysis of Supreme Court cases are a journalist’s delight."

"I highly recommend this course. Well done!!"

Challenging coursework

"Hard but great course"

"while this is a good course, if your are a middle/high school student the assignments will be very difficult"

"This course is superb."

Taught by a renowned constitutional law expert

"Professor Chemerinsky is a great at teaching :)"

"There is only one Chemerinsky on Con Law, and he's Dean of Berkeley Law now!"

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

12-week course

"This is one of the interesting courses offered under MOOCs for Lawyers, Journaist and even for the general people. You will learn lots of new things from this course. I will request Prof Amar to start this course again for 12 weeks"

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 - The Structure of Government with these activities:

Find a Mentor

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Finding a mentor can provide you with guidance and support throughout your learning journey.

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Identify someone who is knowledgeable about constitutional law
Ask them if they would be willing to mentor you
Set up regular meetings to discuss your progress

Watch Lectures on Constitutional Law

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Watching lectures on constitutional law will help you learn from experts in the field and gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter.

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Search for online lectures on constitutional law
Watch the lectures and take notes
Discuss the lectures with a group or online forum

Review U.S. Civics

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Reviewing basic civics will help you better understand the context and foundations of the United States Constitution.

Browse courses on U.S. History

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Review the history of the United States
Study the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
Take a practice civics test

Five other activities

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Join a Study Group

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Joining a study group will allow you to work with other students, share ideas, and learn from each other.

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Find a study group that meets your needs
Attend study group meetings regularly
Participate actively in discussions
Help other students learn

Read The Federalist Papers

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Reading The Federalist Papers will give you a deeper understanding of the debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution.

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Read the essays in order
Take notes on the main arguments
Discuss the essays with a group or online forum

Practice Constitutional Analysis

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Practicing constitutional analysis will help you develop the skills you need to interpret and apply the Constitution to real-world scenarios.

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Find a case or scenario to analyze
Identify the relevant facts
Apply the appropriate legal principles
Reach a conclusion

Write a Blog Post

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Writing a blog post about a specific topic in the course will help you solidify your understanding and explain it to others.

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Choose a topic that you are interested in and that you think you can explain well
Research your topic thoroughly
Write a clear and concise blog post
Share your blog post with others and get feedback

Read Democracy in America

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Reading Democracy in America will give you a deeper understanding of the American political system and its historical development.

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Read the book in its entirety
Take notes on the main arguments
Discuss the book with a group or online forum

Career center

Learners who complete Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law - The Structure of Government will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Constitutional Law Attorney

Constitutional law attorneys specialize in the interpretation and application of the U.S. Constitution. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and history of the Constitution, which is essential for success in this field. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to analyze legal issues, advocate for your clients, and uphold the rule of law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Constitutional Law Attorney

Judge

Judges are responsible for interpreting and applying the Constitution in their rulings. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the Constitution and its interpretation, which will be invaluable for aspiring judges. By gaining a deep understanding of the legal principles that govern our government, you will be better prepared to make fair and impartial decisions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Judge

Law Professor

Law professors teach and research constitutional law. This course provides a strong foundation in the history, structure, and interpretation of the Constitution, which is essential for success in this field. By gaining a deep understanding of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to educate future lawyers and contribute to the development of legal scholarship.

See salaries and explore the career path for Law Professor

Political Scientist

Political scientists study the structure and function of government, including the Constitution. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the Constitution and its interpretation, which will be helpful for aspiring political scientists. By gaining a deep understanding of the legal principles that govern our government, you will be better prepared to analyze political institutions and processes.

See salaries and explore the career path for Political Scientist

Historian

Historians study the past, including the history of the Constitution. This course provides a detailed overview of the history and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring historians. By gaining a deep understanding of the legal principles that have shaped our nation, you will be better prepared to research and write about the past.

See salaries and explore the career path for Historian

Journalist

Journalists report on current events, including legal issues. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring journalists. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to cover legal stories and provide informed commentary on the news.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Public Policy Analyst

Public policy analysts develop and evaluate public policies. This course provides a comprehensive overview of the Constitution and its interpretation, which will be helpful for aspiring public policy analysts. By gaining a deep understanding of the legal principles that govern our government, you will be better prepared to analyze public policies and make recommendations for change.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Policy Analyst

Legislator

Legislators make laws, which must comply with the Constitution. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring legislators. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to draft and debate legislation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legislator

Lobbyist

Lobbyists advocate for the interests of their clients, which may involve influencing legislation. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring lobbyists. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to advocate for your clients' interests within the bounds of the law.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lobbyist

Government Relations Manager

Government relations managers build relationships with government officials to advocate for their company's interests. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring government relations managers. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to understand the legal landscape and build relationships with government officials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Government Relations Manager

Nonprofit Manager

Nonprofit managers oversee the operations of nonprofit organizations, which may involve advocating for public policies. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring nonprofit managers. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to understand the legal framework within which nonprofits operate and advocate for your organization's mission.

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Teacher

Teachers educate students, including about the Constitution. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring teachers. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to teach your students about the legal foundation of our government.

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Librarian

Librarians help people find information, including legal information. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring librarians. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to help people find the legal information they need.

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Paralegal

Paralegals assist lawyers with legal tasks, including legal research. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring paralegals. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to assist lawyers with legal research and other tasks.

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Legal Secretary

Legal secretaries provide administrative support to lawyers, including managing legal documents. This course provides a solid foundation in the structure and interpretation of the Constitution, which will be helpful for aspiring legal secretaries. By understanding the principles of constitutional law, you will be better equipped to manage legal documents and provide support to lawyers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Legal Secretary