About this course: 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
Who is this class for: This course provides a general overview of all of Constitutional Law and is intended for a general audience. No prior knowledge or experience with Constitutional Law is required. It would be of interest to current or prospective law students, practicing lawyers, or anyone who is interested in the ways that the Constitution and its interpretation have shaped the governing of the United States.
Taught by: Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Law, and Raymond Pryke Professor of First Amendment Law
School of Law
| Level | Beginner |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
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The profesor Chemerinsky, is one of the most brilliant stars on the constellation of the Constitutional Law.
I found the course challenging, the paper topics inventive and the quizzes straightforward.
This course was extremely interesting and well presented. I fully intend to take Part 2 of the course.
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KB
I loved this course. Professor Chemerinsky did an amazing job making this course easy to understand. He provided real court examples after he explained the concept of the law. I strongly recommend this course of you are trying to get a basic understanding of constitutional law.