Informed Citizens. Accountable Power.

Course Materials

The course outline is organized against the Preamble of the United States Constitution.

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

– Preamble of the Constitution of the United States of America

Part I. We the People of the United States

  1. Session 1: Introductions and setting the frame; Who are “we” the People?
  2. Session 2:  What is Equality?
  3. Session 3: Constitutional Limits on Individual Freedom

Part II. In Order to form a more perfect Union

  1. Session 4: Establishing Justice: Federalism & the Judicial Branch
  2. Session 5:  Insuring domestic Tranquility: Federalism & the Legislative Branch (e.g. Healthcare)
  3. Session 6: Providing for the common defense & promoting the general Welfare: Federalism & the Executive Branch (e.g. The President’s War Powers)
  4. Session 7: Promoting General Welfare: The Commerce Clause
  5. Session 8: Securing the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity: The Constitution and Individual Rights

Part III. Establishing the Constitution of the United States

(This portion of the syllabus is subject to change based on contemporary events)

  1. Session 9-January 9, 2019: Immigration and the Government Shut Down
  2. Session 10-January 16, 2019: Education Rights 
  3. Session 11-January 23, 2019: Women’s Rights
  4. Session 12-January 30, 2019: LGBT Rights and Dignity 
  5. Session 13-February 6, 2019: America and International Law