This course is divided into six parts, most lasting approximately three weeks. During each part, the class will meet to hear lectures and engage in discussion and review. Also during the first part of the class, students will complete an assignment on Plagiarism. There will be five brief essay assignments, to be defined at the time they are assigned. Students will also be assigned to make in-class presentations concerning particular landmark court cases referenced in the required reading. There will also be a Semester Project. See the Grading section of the Syllabus for more details about these assignments and their weighting with respect to the overall course grade.
Part 1 -- Orientation and Legal Research -- 1/18 - 1/27
  • Plagiarism Test
  • Basic Legal Research using LEXIS/NEXIS
  • Semester Project Orientation

Part 2 - Colonial Backgrounds and Republicanism -- 1/30 - 2/10

  • Required Reading: McManus & Helfman, Chapters 1-5
  • Writing Assignment 1
Part 3 – The Constitution in the Early 19th Century -- 2/13 - 3/6
  • Required Reading: McManus & Helfman, Chapters 6-10
                                       Urofski, Chapters 1-7
  • Writing Assignment 2
Part 4 – The Constitution in the Late 19th Century -- 3/20 - 3/29
  • Required Reading: McManus & Helfman, Chapters 11-15
  •                                    Urofski, Chapters 8-16
  • Writing Assignment 3
Part 5 – A New Era in Constitutional History -- 4/3 - 4/10
  • Required Reading: McManus & Helfman, Chapters 16-24
  •                                    Urofski, Chapters 17-20
  • Writing Assignment 4
Part 6 – Framing Individual Rights -- 4/12 - 4/17
  • Required Reading: McManus & Helfman, Chapters 25-33
                                       Urofski, Chapters 21-23