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• POSC 271 Constitutional Law I 6 credits

  This course will explore the United States Constitution and the legal doctrines that have emerged from it, using them as lenses through which to understand the history—and shape the future—of this country. Using prominent Supreme Court opinions as teaching tools and loci of debate (including cases on the Court’s recent and current docket), this course will explore the different kind of theoretical approaches with which to make Constitutional arguments and interpret the Constitution. It is one of two paired courses (the other being POSC 272) that complement each other. Both courses will address the structure and functioning of the United States government, and will explore in greater depth the historic Constitutional “trends” towards greater equality and more liberty (albeit slowly, haltingly, and with steps both forward and backward). This course will focus in particular on how matters of racial justice have been a Constitutional issue from the very beginning of the nation—and very much remain unfinished legal work. In exploring matters of personal liberty, this course will focus in particular on First Amendment freedom of religion. Finally, in examining governmental structures, this course will emphasize federalism and the distribution of power between the national and state governments, including the rise of a nationwide economic system and the modern administrative state. The course will require close reading of judicial opinions and other texts, and learning how to construct arguments using logic and precedent. A special feature of this course will be detailed examination and intra-class mock debate of the cases the Supreme Court will hear this fall challenging raced-based affirmative action programs at private and public universities.

  • Offered: Fall 2024
  • Liberal Arts Requirements: SI, Social Inquiry
  • Tags: AMST Race Ethnicty Indign AMST Survey 2 POSI Elective PPOL Other Comparative AMST Democracy Activism CL: 200 level

  • POSC  271.00 Fall 2024

  • Faculty:Steven Poskanzer 🏫 👤
  • Size:25
  • M, WHasenstab 002 11:10am-12:20pm
  • FHasenstab 002 12:00pm-1:00pm