POLS 316 Rights & Liberties and U.S. Constitutional Law

An examination of how the Supreme Court interprets the U.S. Constitution in the area of the protection of natural and civil rights and liberties. A research paper is optional.

Credits

3

Prerequisite

Sophomore standing

Offered

Fall, odd years

Outcomes

1. Students will gain an understanding of the history and practice of constitutional interpretation in resolving constitutional disputes in the federal system.
2. Students will gain an understanding of some of the substantive issues addressed in the Supreme Court in the areas of the Bill of Rights, religious freedom, property rights and due process, the rights of the accused in criminal law, freedom of expression, and privacy.
3. Students will gain an understanding of how the Supreme Court has changed over time in its interpretation of the Constitution in the area of rights and liberties.
4. Students will gain an appreciation of the role that the U.S. Supreme Court plays in shaping the political landscape of the U.S.
5. If the research paper option is chosen, students will develop research, writing, and critical thinking skills through an in-depth exploration of an issue of contemporary U.S. constitutional law concern.