POL6613 CONSTITUTIONAL LAW
3 Credit Hours
Student Level:
This course is open to students on the college level in their freshman or sophomore year.
Catalog Description:
POL6613 - Constitutional Law (3 hrs.)
This course examines the history and creation of the United States Constitution and illustrates how the Constitution continues to affect America’s current legal procedures. Areas covered in this class include the structure and content of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, freedom of speech, and search and seizure.
Course Classification:
Lecture
Controlling Purpose:
This course examines the history and creation of the United States Constitution and illustrates how the Constitution continues to affect America’s current legal procedures. Areas covered in this class include, the structure and content of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, freedom of speech, search and seizure laws, right to counsel, and laws of arrest. Emphasis will be given to how the Constitution currently affects our criminal justice system.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to understand and discuss the historic context of the Constitution and the creation of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the three branches of government and their responsibilities, and understand and be able to explain rights granted under the Constitution.
Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:
The following defines the minimum core content, not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other content as time allows.
UNIT 1: History and Structure of the United States Constitution
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, students will be able to discuss the history and structure of the United States Constitution.
- Describe, identify, and explain factors that faced the framers of the Constitution.
- Discuss the major debates at the Constitutional Convention, and how they were resolved.
- Discuss the creation of the Bill of Rights and the rationale behind the Amendments.
- Analyze the effects of the Amendments on today’s political and legal systems.
UNIT 2: Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to discuss the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech, press, and assembly.
- Identify situations where the First Amendment applies, and what its limitations are.
- Analyze what constitutes lawful speech.
- Discuss what legal restrictions can be placed on First Amendment rights by the government.
UNIT 3: Laws of Arrest
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to analyze and discuss laws of arrest.
- Explain what determines if an arrest is lawful and constitutional.
- Discuss the legal requirements of warrants and entering private spaces.
- Determine what situations require search warrants or arrest warrants.
UNIT 4: Search and Seizure Laws Under the 4th Amendment
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to discuss the Fourth Amendment, and its governance of search and seizure laws.
- Identify and explain what constitutes a search under Constitutional parameters.
- Explain what determines if the search is lawful or unlawful.
UNIT 5: The Right to Counsel
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to discuss a citizen’s right to counsel.
- Explain a citizen’s right to counsel.
- Identify the requirements that must be met by governmental authorities in relation to a citizen’s right to counsel.
Projects Required:
The student will be responsible for all course material and reading. The student will be graded on written assignments, exams, quizzes, discussion questions, class participation, and other methods at the discretion of the instructor. Class projects will include unit exams, chapter quizzes, pop quizzes, daily assignments, and written projects pertaining to case laws and Amendments to the Constitution.
Textbook:
Contact Bookstore for current textbook.
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Grading Policy:
The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Maximum class size:
Based on classroom occupancy
Course Time Frame:
The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas Board of Regents define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.
Refer to the following policies on the Cowley Policies and Procedures webpage:
402.00 - Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 - Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 - Student Code of Conduct
Accessibility Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, accommodates all students with a documented disability. If a student has a disability that will impact their ability to be successful in this course, please contact the Student Accessibility Coordinator for the needed accommodations.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
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