LIVING CONSTITUTION
SOC 5123 – Fall 2015
MR. STUART
LOCATION: Temporary Office -Faculty House[CAST building behind Student
Center] – 1st floor
OFFICE PHONE: 765-285-7462; email – kstuart@bsu.edu
OFFICE HOURS: Monday – 8:30-9:30am, 1:30-3:30pm; Tuesday – 11:30am1pm, 3:45-4:15pm; Wednesday – 8:30-9:30am, 1-3pm; Thursday – 11:30am1pm; Friday – 8:30-9:30am, 1-3:30pm.
My office is open beyond these official hours as I am the Humanities Division
Chair and Social Studies Head; appointments and walk-ins are welcome
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The Constitution of the United States operates as the legal basis for our country’s
government structure. Within its framework the serious studier of this document
finds much to appreciate and much to comprehend. From the formulated guide
of an 18th century mindset to an ongoing consultation of the document in the 21st
century, the Constitution has enamored, and mystified, scholars, pundits, and
politicians. Michael Kammen wrote a book titled A MACHINE THAT WOULD
GO OF ITSELF: THE CONSTITUTION IN AMERICAN CULTURE which will
serve as the primary source for this class. It is an apt title as we explore the
language of the document, the sentiments of interpretation of the language, and
the consequences of actions taken on behalf of the document as they apply to
American domestic life and to US interests overseas.
COURSE PREREQUISITES
None.
GENERAL COURSE OBJECTIVES
) to afford students a structured opportunity to become literate about the
Constitution;
) to afford students a structured guide to articulating the knowledge of the
essential components of the Constitution;
) to develop the skills of analysis and synthesis required for interpretation of the
text and subsequent supplementary texts regarding the Constitution;
) to develop an ability to identify recurrent themes, concepts, and ideas in the
Constitution and its implementation within American culture;
) to develop and reinforce those skills of inquiry and reflection which enable one
to actively pursue independent research in constitutional studies;
) to come to appreciate more full the legal, cultural, and intellectual elements of
the Constitution out of which the fabric of political, economic, and social life is
woven.
COURSE CONTENT
The course content will center on the contemporary issues, forces, and events
which engage the Constitution to varying degrees. The three main branches of
the Constitution – executive, legislative, judicial – will be treated with document
analysis and numerous role-playing activities. The other four portions of the
Constitution will also be treated with direct application to events of the day.
Numerous scholarly documents will coexist with the regular texts in the study of
the Constitution and its impact on American life.
REQUIRED TEXTS
American Government
Constitution of US: A Primer for the People
A Machine That Would Go of Itself
COURSE METHODOLOGY
=reading of texts and sources in constitutionalism on which regular, structured,
in-class interpretational discussion will be based;
=student class presentations;
=evaluating the process of historical and current issues through the use of roleplays, readers theaters, simulations, debates, play-acting, modeling, etc;
=portfolio;
=examination of film, art, and other visual mediums which offer scenarios about
constitutionalism;
=research writing utilizing primary, secondary and tertiary sources.
METHODS OF STUDENT EVALUATION: unless otherwise noted specified
assignments are assigned a numerical value between 5 (quizzes or short, in-class
written responses) to 20 points (formal papers), and generally, the overall total
amount of points in the course does not exceed 200 points
\essay writings [4-6 for the semester @15-20 points]
\document analysis, media analysis, book analysis writings [2-3 for the semester
@15-20 points]
\periodical in-class writings/quizzes [3-5 for the semester @5-10 points]
\creative assignments [2-4 for the semester @10-15 points]
GRADING: 100-95%-A; 94-90-A-; 89-87%-B+; 86-84%-B; 83-80%-B-; 79-77%C+; 76-74%-C; 73-70%-C-; below 70%-D*
CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY
The policy stated in the Student Handbook will be in force during this semester.
Students are responsible for completing all assignments of this course.
Assignments arriving past the due date/time will be subject to penalty of
reduction in points – receiving a 10% reduction for up to five hours, 20%
reduction for arriving assignments between 5 and 24 hours, and a zero point
value will be assigned for those assignments received after 24 hours [these
assignments will be critiqued by the instructor for intellectual development and
writing development]. Extenuating circumstances may allow for extensions of
assignment deliveries. The policy for academic dishonesty as stated in the
Student Handbook shall be in effect during this semester. Honesty, trust and
personal intellectual responsibility are fundamental attributes of the Academy
community. Academic dishonesty by a student shall not be tolerated by this
institution for it threatens the foundation of this scholarly institution dedicated to
the pursuit of honest research and composition. To maintain credibility and
reputation and to equitably assign evaluation of scholastic and creative
performance, the Indiana Academy, and this instructor, is committed to
maintaining a climate which upholds and salutes the highest standard of
academic integrity. Papers are subject to electronic inspection.
METHODS OF COURSE EVALUATION
This course will be evaluated by on-line and written forms by students at the
conclusion of the course.
LIVING CONSTITUTION READING SCHEDULE – subject to alteration
MTWGOI = Machine That Would Go of Itself
P = Primer
AG= American Government
August 11: introduction
August 13: Principles of Politics – AG, chapter 1; MTWGOI, chapter 1 pages 3-13,
23-29, 35-39
August 18: Ratification + Federalism – AG, chapter 2 pages 54-70 and chapter 3;
P, chapters 3&4; MTWGOI, chapter 2
August 20: Legislative branch – AG, chapter 6 pages 186-222
August 25: Legislative branch – AG, chapter 6 pages 222-245
August 27: Legislative branch
September 1: Legislative branch
September 3: Executive branch – AG, chapter 7 pages 248-86
September 10: Executive branch – AG chapter 7 pages 286-300, chapter 8
September 15: Executive branch – AG chapter 17
September 17: Executive branch
September 22: Judicial branch – AG chapter 9 pages 342-367; P chapter 2
September 24: Judicial branch – AG chapter 9 pages 367-391
September 29: Judicial branch – MTWGOI chapter 9
October 1: Judicial branch
October 6: Civil liberties – AG chapter 4 pages 104-133; P, chapters 5, 7, 8;
MTWGOI chapter 12 pages 336-342
October 8: Civil liberties – AG chapter 4 pages 133-144
October 15: Civil rights – AG chapter 5 pages 146-167; P chapter 6
October 20: Civil rights – AG chapter 5 pages 170-184
October 22: Economic policy – AG chapter 15
October 27: Social policy – AG chapter 16
October 29: Elections – AG chapter 11
November 3: Political parties – AG chapter 12
November 5: Groups and Interests – AG chapter 13
November 10: State government
November 12: State government
November 17: Local government
November 19: Local government
December 1: A Machine That Would Go of Itself – chapter 6
December 3: A Machine That Would Go of Itself – chapter 14
December 8: Currents
December 10: Currents