Offered at Princeton, Stanford and Georgetown

An introduction to one of the most fascinating areas of American jurisprudence, Constitutional Law examines the Supreme Court and its evolving interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. The course begins with background on the Court and its relationship to the legislative and executive branches. A historical overview examines the origins of the Constitution, the rise of judicial power, the Constitutional crises of the 1930s, the Court’s civil rights decisions and its recent moves to scale back the activism of the post New Deal era. While reading landmark cases, students examine the role of the law within the American political system.

Student-run legislative debates  are the heart of Congressional Workshop, an academic exercise that is part of all classes. This experience serves as a practical demonstration of the academic curriculum. Beginner public speakers and expert debaters enjoy the rational discourse, peer-to-peer learning and witty repartee of JSA debate. As an interactive part of the coursework, participation is graded and constitutes a percentage of final course grades.

This college-level course is equivalent to a one-semester honors social studies course.