Course Description
An exploration of the concepts of democracy and equal citizenship through the prism of the U.S. Constitution. Students will examine the rights and responsibilities of membership in the American civic community and how those rights and responsibilities have changed over time. Examination of each of these conflicts will center on their relationship to the rights and duties embodied in the U.S. Constitution.
Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
This course is evaluated on the basis of student participation in discussion groups (20% ), three written essays (30%), and a take-home exam requiring students to engage in written and critical analysis of concepts discussed in the course (50%). Graduate students, like undergraduate students, will be graded on these same elements, but the graduate student's oral and written work product will be evaluated on the higher standards of reasoning and analysis expected of advanced students.
Athena Title
Democracy and the Constitution
Equivalent Courses
Not open to students with credit in JURI 4110E or JURI 6110E
Non-Traditional Format
The course will use a "flipped classroom" instructional model consisting of weekly asynchronous online content combined with small discussion group meetings. To facilitate small group discussions, enrollment is capped at 50 students (with each student participating in one small group session per week).
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101S or POLS 1105H
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate, orally and in writing, their knowledge and understanding of: 1. The principles of democratic self-governance, including disputes about those principles, underlying the major areas of law, and history covered in the course 2. The ways in which contested principles of democratic self-governance work to shape our laws and governing systems 3. How the U.S. Constitution has shaped disputes about democracy, self-government, and civic engagement during different periods of U.S. history 4. The law governing the major areas of law covered in the course, including disputes about how these areas of law have changed and how they should be interpreted and applied
Topical Outline
1. Democracy, republicanism, and populism in our foundational documents 2. Representation: what is it, who gets it, and how? 3. Counter-majoritarianism and the U.S. Constitution 4. Do “we” have a “right” to vote? 5. Equality, democracy, and economics 6. The future of self-government
Syllabus
Public CV