PSC 318 - Introduction to Constitutional Law - Limitations of Governmental Power
This course is an examination of the constitutional foundations of the power relationship between the federal government and the states, among the three branches of the federal government, and between the government and the individual with special emphasis given to leading decisions of the Supreme Court.
The purpose of this course is to explore the way that the U.S. Constitution distributes political power among the different branches of the national government and between the state and national governments. The primary materials for this exploration will be the decisions and opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court. However, we will also consider arguments made in other contexts, including arguments that Supreme Court decisions are not the final word on what the Constitution means. By the end of this course, you will have gained not only a greater understanding of the Constitution and the role it has played in American political history, but also the confidence to interpret the document for yourself.
The purpose of this course is to explore the way that the U.S. Constitution distributes political power among the different branches of the national government and between the state and national governments. The primary materials for this exploration will be the decisions and opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court. However, we will also consider arguments made in other contexts, including arguments that Supreme Court decisions are not the final word on what the Constitution means. By the end of this course, you will have gained not only a greater understanding of the Constitution and the role it has played in American political history, but also the confidence to interpret the document for yourself.
