Introduction to U.S. Constitutional Law

This course provides an introduction to the United States Constitution and the principles of constitutional law. Using landmark Supreme Court cases that have shaped the development of constitutional law in the United States, students gain familiarity with legal arguments and understand the historical, political, social, and moral dimensions of the American constitutional structure. The course explores the structure of the Constitution, the powers of the federal government, and the relationship between the federal government and the states. It also covers the Bill of Rights and the Fourteenth Amendment — including Due Process and Equal Protection — examining the protections these amendments afford and the ways they have been interpreted by the Supreme Court. Throughout, students engage with key constitutional concepts including federalism, separation of powers, and individual rights.