HNRS: U.S. Constitution: Why and How It Was Created, How It Has Survived, and How It Impacts Americans
Fall 2019 Courses
Course:
SCHC 382 H02 14574
Course Attributes:
Humanities, HistoryCiv, NotCore
Instructor:
Joel Collins
Location/Times(1):
HONORS B119 on MW @ 03:55 pm - 05:10 pm
Registered:
15
Seat Capacity:
16
Notes:
Every well-educated American citizen, regardless of his or her chosen business or profession, should be knowledgeable about the United States Constitution. Along with this knowledge will come appreciation and admiration. This course traces its historical and philosophical roots, reviews the debates at the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787, examines the brilliant concepts of separation of powers and the system of checks and balances, and provides insight into the ideas and concerns of our Founding Fathers. It also covers the ratification process and the debates between those favoring ratification and those fearful of the federal governmental powers it created. We will study some of the Federalist papers as well as the writings of some of the Anti-federalists. The class will go through the Constitution clause-by-clause carefully and learn why our system of government has been adopted by many other countries. The course concludes with the study of some of the most famous cases of the United States Supreme Court. Some of these cases interpret the Constitution, including its "elastic clauses." Other cases define and expand our rights guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. Each student will select and read a biography on one of the Founding Fathers. Book reports will be orally presented to the entire class. During these presentations, students will develop their elocution skills. During the semester, the class will collect a list of unfamiliar words found in the texts and learn their meanings. The highlight of the semester will be a trip to Philadelphia paid for by the SCHC where students will see the sights of the “Most Historic Square Mile” in the United States with a tour of Independence Hall and the National Constitution Center. We will have lunch at the City Tavern, the same place the Founding Fathers dined on September 17, 1787, after signing the Constitution. The goal is for this to be the best and most memorable course in your college career.