Syllabus
The full Constitution and Syllabus — including the Bill of Rights and Responsibilities — arrives here before the semester starts. This page will carry the governing document; the schedule below is generated from the module registry. This is not a democracy.
The Five Grading Criteria
Every assessment in this course rewards the same five things: Big Picture understanding, Raw Specific Knowledge, Practical Application, Critical Thinking, and Creative Thinking. The Notes & Questions after each case are keyed to them.
Schedule of Modules
| 1 | Introduction to Constitutional Law and the Power of Judicial Review |
| 1A | Constitutional Interpretation; The Power of Political Control over the Supreme Court |
| 2 | Default Rules of Government Power: The Police Power; Federalism; The Necessary and Proper Clause |
| 2A | The Takings Clause |
| 3 | The Commerce Clause |
| 3A | The Tenth Amendment |
| 4 | The Taxing and Spending Power |
| 5 | The Federal Executive Power: Inherent Presidential Power; The Constitutional Problems of the Administrative State |
| 5A | Appointment and Removal |
| 6 | The Federal Executive Power, Part II: Foreign Affairs, War, and Immigration |
| 7 | Preemption of State and Local Laws |
| 7A | The Dormant Commerce Clause |
| 8 | Limits on the Federal Judicial Power |
| 9 | Introduction to Fundamental Rights; The State Action Doctrine |
| 10 | Equal Protection: A Framework for Analysis; Rational Basis; Classifications Based on Race to Brown |
| 11 | Equal Protection: Remedies for Segregation; Proving a Classification; Affirmative Action |
| 11A | Equal Protection: Gender; Alienage; Age; Disability; Wealth; Sexual Orientation |
| 12 | Procedural Due Process |