POLS 402 - Constitutional Law

Institution:

Point Park University

Subject:

POLITICAL SCIENCE

Description:

This course serves as a general introduction to the study of constitutional law in the United States. The study of constitutional law in this country is important because there is scarcely a facet of American life, public or private, that has not fallen within the scope of constitutional adjudication and interpretation by courts. At the apex of the American legal system is the United States Supreme Court, whose decisions have had, on occasion, dramatic and far-reaching consequences for the American political system. and the life of the American people. During this term, we shall examine the role of the Court in American life through careful analysis of its decisions in leading cases. By the end of this term, students should be familiar with the significance of the Court's holdings in numerous important decisions, as well as the reasoning underlying contending positions toward the constitutional questions posed in these cases. Consequently, the major focus of this course will be the analysis and discussion of these cases in class. The teaching method employed in this class will be to engage students in dialogue over these questions of constitutional interpretation. Students will be expected to read the assigned materials carefully in order to be able to participate fully and effectively in class discussion. Course Objectives (1) Explain and analyze the role of the Supreme Court and the federal court system within the American political system (2) Explain and analyze judicial review, constitutional politics and different modes of constitutional interpretation - meaning of terms like "conservative" and "liberal" in the context of judicial appointments and decision making (3) Explain and analyze the nature of Congress's Power; Conflicts between the executive and legislature; the Chief Executive and domestic politics (4) Explain and analyze Presidential power and foreign affairs; War powers; Different theories of presidential power (5) Explain and analyze interaction between the states and national government; the issue of Federeralism in historic and contemporary context; the debate over the Commerce Clause and the Expansion of National Powers; (6) Explain and analyze Economic Liberties; the rise and fall of Economic Substantive due process; the constitutional basis of economic rights and capitalism; the debate between judicial progressives and conservatives over national government regulation of economic activity (7) Explain and analyze the Bill of Rights and its application to all levels of government in the United States; the debate over the "Incorporation Doctrine"; (8) Explain and analyze Substantive Due process and the Capital Punishment debate (9) Explain and analyze Substantive Due process, Privacy and judicial activism: the abortion debate; parenthood; "right to die" (10) Explain and analyze First Amendment Expressive freedoms - Freedom of Speech, (11) Explain and analyze First Amendment Religion provisions and the doctrine of Separation (12) Explain and analyze Civil Rights; Equal Protection Brown v. Board of Education and the (13) Explain and analyze Gender, Citizenship and Age Equality Claims (14) Explain and analyze Rights of the Accused; Right to Bear Arms (15) Explain and analyze Voting and Political Representation

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.pointpark.edu

Phone Number:

(412) 391-4100

Regional Accreditation:

Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

Calendar System:

Semester

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