POLI 239 - Civil Rights & Civil Liberties in the United States

Semester Offered: Spring
1 unit(s)

Civil Liberties refer to fundamental freedoms from government overreach, as guaranteed by the Constitution, itself defined in its Article VI as “the supreme Law of the Land.” Constitutional Law, and the degree of its granting of Civil Liberties, however, are far from straightforward and filled with ambiguity. What is the legal (and philosophical) basis for any given realm of Civil Liberties, especially concerning speech, expression, punishment, privacy, searches, due process, and bodily choice? To answer this question, this course assesses a wide range of Constitutional provisions pertaining to Civil Liberties in a range of scenarios, notably through examination and review of requisite court cases, congressional and state laws, and executive orders and actions. Maxwell Fuerderer.

Prerequisite(s): 100-level course in Political Science or permission of the instructor.

Two 75-minute periods.

Course Format: CLS