Uploaded: June, 2011
Common Course Outline
POLITICAL SCIENCE 2254
Constitutional Law II: The Evolution of the Constitution from Reconstruction to the
Present
3 credits
I.
Date of course outline: September 2007
Date of review for modification: September, 2009
II.
Catalog description:
The rise of the presidency, the national government’s regulation of the economy,
civil liberties, and civil rights.
III.
Prerequisites: Political Science 1130 recommended
IV.
Outline of major content areas:
A.
Historical development of Constitution
1.
The nationalization of the Bill of Rights
2.
The Constitution and the Industrial Revolution
3.
The Progressive movement and the Constitution
4.
World War I
5.
The New Deal
6.
Civil Liberties, 1920-1950
7.
World War II
8.
The Cold War and the Constitution
9.
Civil Rights
10.
The Warren Court
11.
Watergate and the crisis of the American presidency
12.
The Burger Court
13.
The contemporary Court
B.
Topics
1.
Judicial review and the role of the Supreme Court
2.
Federalism and the control of the economy
3.
Criminal procedure
4.
The constitutional questions surrounding Congress and the
Presidency
5.
The protection and promotion of democracy
V.
Learning outcomes:
Upon successfully completing this course, students should be able to:
A.
Demonstrate the use of the historical method to understand constitutional
development (MNTC competency 5.a.).
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
VI.
Demonstrate that they have examined how social institutions and
processes across historical periods have influenced the development of
constitutional principles (MNTC competency 5.b.).
Select and use historical data to analyze constitutional issues (MNTC
competency 5.c.).
Use and critique alternative constitutional theories to access constitutional
questions; e.g., the appropriate balance between the presidency and
Congress or protection of the innocent and the punishment of the guilty.
(MNTC competency 5.d.).
Present alternative constitutional frameworks for addressing current
constitutional questions (MNTC competency 5.d.).
Demonstrate that they can articulate their own moral views as these
touch upon constitutional principles (MNTC competency 9.a.).
Apply core concepts (e.g. rights, liberty, freedom) to specific constitutional
questions (MNTC competency 9.b.).
Analyze and reflect on the relationships between legal, social and
economic issues and constitutional developments (MNTC competency
9.c.).
Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests as these
have affected and continue to affect constitutional change (MNTC
competency 9.d.).
Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
particularly as these relate to basic constitutional issues (MNTC
competency 9.e.).
Methods used for evaluation of student learning:
Students will be periodically evaluated using any or all of the following: objective
quizzes and exams, essay exams, class discussion, papers, or journals.