The United States of America has a unique Constitution that makes the country unique. Other countries have a constitution, but no other country is the United States.

We will cover several topics within the 1st Amendment, the 2nd Amendment, and the body of the Constitution including the Electoral College, Eminent Domain, the Contracts Clause, the Necessary and Proper Clause, and others.

This course will explore the Supreme Court cases and made up scenarios that have structured how these parts of the Constitution are applied to our daily lives, and we look to see how various countries apply these ideas within their borders.

Below is a general overview of how the class will go, but this schedule may be adapted as needed:

Spring 2024 schedule (may be subject to change):

Week 1 (January 7 - January 13): 1st Amendment - Internal Security
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 2 (January 14 - January 20): 1st Amendment - Symbolic Speech
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 3 (January 21 - January 27): 1st Amendment - Expressive Conduct
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 4: (January 28 - February 3): 1st Amendment - Fighting Words
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 5: (February 4 - February 10): 1st Amendment - Hate Speech 
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 6: (February 11 - February 17): 1st Amendment - Establishment Clause
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 7: (February 18 - February 24): 1st Amendment - Free Exercise of Religion 
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 8:  (February 25 - March 2): 1st Amendment - Press, Peaceably Assemble, and Redress of Grievances
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 9: (March 2 - March 9): The Electoral College 
-     What is it and why do we have it?
 
Week 10 (March 10 - March 16): 2nd Amendment  - The District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 US 570 (2008)/McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 US 742 (2010)
-     What does the 2nd Amendment actually mean?

Week 11: (March 17 - March 23) 2nd Amendment - Caniglia v. Strom, 593 US ____ (2021)/New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 US ____(2022)
-	Fleshing out the 2nd Amendment

Week 12: (March 24 - March 30) The Necessary and Proper Clause
-	How does Congress make laws that are necessary and proper?

Week 13: (March 21 - April 6) The Contracts Clause
-	How does the government help the process of making contracts?

Week 14: (April 7 - April 13) The Takings Clause - Eminent Domain
-	When can the government take private land for public use?

Week 15: (April 14 - April 20) Equal Protection
- 	How does the government make sure that the law is applied equally to all?

Week 16: (April 27 - May 4) Interstate Privileges and Immunities Clause
-	How does the Federal government make sure the state governments honor each others' laws?

Week 17: (May 5 - May 11) 4th Amendment - Searches
-	What are the procedures for a police officer to search for evidence?

Week 18: (May 12 - May 18) 4th Amendment - Seizures
-	What are the procedures for the police to arrest someone?

Week 19: (May 19 - May 25) 8th Amendment - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
-	When is punishment cruel and unusual?

Week 20: (May 26 - June 1) 5th and 6th Amendments - Due Process and Right to an Attorney
-	What does Due Process mean and when does a citizen have a right to an attorney?


Fall 2024 Schedule (Class starts over, may be subject to change)

Week 1 (August 11 - August 17): 1st Amendment - Internal Security
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 2 (August 18 - August 24): 1st Amendment - Symbolic Speech
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 3 (August 25 - August 31): 1st Amendment - Expressive Conduct
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 4: (September 1 - September 7): 1st Amendment - Fighting Words
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 5: (September 8 - September 14): 1st Amendment - Hate Speech 
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic

Week 6: (September 15 - September 21): 1st Amendment - Establishment Clause
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 7: September 22 - September 28): 1st Amendment - Free Exercise of Religion 
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 8:  (September 29 - October 5): 1st Amendment - Press, Peaceably Assemble, and Redress of Grievances
-	A study of the Supreme Court Cases dealing with this topic 

Week 9: (October 6 - October 12): The Electoral College 
-     What is it and why do we have it?
 
Week 10 (October 13 - October 19): 2nd Amendment  - The District of Columbia v. Heller, 554 US 570 (2008)/McDonald v. City of Chicago, 561 US 742 (2010)
-     What does the 2nd Amendment actually mean?

Week 11: (October 20 - October 26) 2nd Amendment - Caniglia v. Strom, 593 US ____ (2021)/New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, 597 US ____(2022)
-	Fleshing out the 2nd Amendment

Week 12: (October 27 - November 2) The Necessary and Proper Clause
-	How does Congress make laws that are necessary and proper?

Week 13: (November 3 - November 9) The Contracts Clause
-	How does the government help the process of making contracts?

Week 14: (November 10 - November 16) The Takings Clause - Eminent Domain
-	When can the government take private land for public use?

Week 15: (November 17 - November 23) Equal Protection
- 	How does the government make sure that the law is applied equally to all?

Week 16: (November 24 - November 30) Interstate Privileges and Immunities Clause
-	How does the Federal government make sure the state governments honor each others' laws?

Week 17: (December 1 - December 7) 4th Amendment - Searches
-	What are the procedures for a police officer to search for evidence?

Week 18: (December 8 - December 14) 4th Amendment - Seizures
-	What are the procedures for the police to arrest someone?

Week 19: (December 16 - December 21) 8th Amendment - Cruel and Unusual Punishment
-	When is punishment cruel and unusual?