THE AMERICAN CONSTITUTION: RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES

Prerequisites & course information

Requisites: Sophomore standing and POLI SCI 104 Course Designation: Core GenEd - Social & Behavioral Science Breadth - Social Science Level - Intermediate L&S Credit - L&S Liberal Arts and Science Repeatable for Credit: No Last Taught: Spring 2026 Learning Outcomes: 1. Examine the historical development of American constitutional thinking about individual rights and civil liberties from the founding era to the present day. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Examine freedoms guaranteed by the original Articles, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil War Amendments (XIII, XIV, and XV) as these issues appear in constitutional law, constitutional politics, and social and economic developments. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Understand the role of the federal courts, the nature and operation of principles of federalism, and the authority of Congress to protect constitutionally guaranteed rights. Audience: Undergraduate Learning Outcomes: 1. Examine the historical development of American constitutional thinking about individual rights and civil liberties from the founding era to the present day. Audience: Undergraduate 2. Examine freedoms guaranteed by the original Articles, the Bill of Rights, and the Civil War Amendments (XIII, XIV, and XV) as these issues appear in constitutional law, constitutional politics, and social and economic developments. Audience: Undergraduate 3. Understand the role of the federal courts, the nature and operation of principles of federalism, and the authority of Congress to protect constitutionally guaranteed rights. Audience: Undergraduate