Week 1 (1/17) - Introduction; Course Overview/Syllabus (Read Preface) REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "INTRODUCTION"

ASSIGNMENT: Print a copy of this Agenda and bring it to class Monday. (Read "The Originalist Perspective")

ALSO - Complete the A Common Understanding - Due Monday.

Week 2 (1/22 - 24) - Government, Politics, Ideology and Democracy; Begin the History of U.S. Pre-Constitution.  REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "INTRODUCTION"

Wednesday Journal Topic: "ORIGINALISM" - Take a position on whether the Constitution should be applied rigidly OR flexibly when defining the role of government. Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due Monday

WEEK 3  (1/29-31)- Complete the History of U.S. Pre-Constitution. (Review: "Debate Summaries" "Madison's Notes")  REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "INDEPENDENCE"

Video: A Little Rebellion Now and Then

Wednesday Journal Topic: "THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE" - Form a position on whether the Federal Government should take an active/protective role in the social health of the citizens, or if that is the proper role of the State/Local Governments. Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due Monday.

WEEK 4 (2/5 - 7) - Federalism & Economic Flow REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "FEDERALISM"

The Constitutional Debates. . . an unedited perspective of the thinking behind the "Law of the Land." TAKE HOME - TEST 1 Over History of these United States leading to the Constitution (Read Preamble and Article I)

Week 5 (2/12 - 14)  Monday the 12th NO CLASS  REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "CONGRESS"

Wednesday the 14th - The Policy Process - A Cumbersome Process. . . taking an idea all the way to law.

Wednesday Journal Topic: "BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT" - Form a position on whether the Congress should be Constitutionally mandated to have a balanced budget. Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due Monday. (Read Article II)

Week 6 - (2/19 - 21) - THE PRESIDENT . (Review: "National Conventions" and "Electoral College")  REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "PRESIDENT"

Electing a President - A MORE Cumbersome Process. . . why your vote does matter.

Week 7 - (2/26 - 28) - THE BUREAUCRACY REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "BUREAUCRACY"

Wednesday Journal Topic: "EXECUTIVE ORDERS" - Take a position on whether the President of the United States should or should not be able to take unilateral action (without Congress's approval) if he/she believes there is dire need to do so for the good of the citizens of the United States.  Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due Monday.(Read Article III)

Week 8 - (3/5 -7) - Monday the 5th NO CLASS

Wednesday the 7th - THE SUPREME COURT . (Review: "SCOTUS")  REVIEW LECTURE NOTES "SUPREME COURT"

Wednesday Journal Topic: "JUSTICE YOU" - Take a position on whether or not a Catholic University should be governmentally forced to hire professors who have declared that they do not believe in God. Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due next class. Discuss Paper Assignment; (Read Article IV AND Article V)

Week 9 (3/12 - 14) - Monday the 12th NO CLASS, Research the tenants of the Paper Assignment case by utilizing the LRC. (Prof. Williams Absent).

Wednesday the 14th - THE STATES & AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION

Wednesday Journal Topic: "EDUCATION" - Take a position on whether the Federal Government should be making decisions regarding the foods served on a school campus. Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due Monday.  (Read Article VI &VII)

Week 10 (3/19 - 21) - Monday the 19th NO CLASS,

Wednesday the 21st - SUPREMACY! And RATIFICATION...

TEST 2 Over the "The Originally Proposed Constitution"  - (Read 1st, 2nd & 3rd Amendment )

Week 11 (3/26 - 28) - Monday the 26th NO CLASS,

Wednesday the 28th - THE AMENDMENTS. Conditional Ratification. Civil Liberties, or: "The Freedom from Government."

Wednesday Journal Topic: "RELIGION" - Take a position on whether God (or gods)exists or not.  IT IS NOT NECESSARY to support your position with facts. Due Monday. (Read 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th Amendment)

SPRING BREAK - First week of April.

Week 12 (4/9 - 11) -  Continue The Amendments; 

Policing, Prosecutorial, Trial & Punishment Rights

Wednesday Journal Topic: "ARMS CONTROL" - A citizens has the "right to keep and bear arms." Take a position on what constitutes "arms." Support your position with facts. Source those facts. Due Monday. (Read 9th and 10th Amendment)

Week 13 (4/16 - 18)-  Continue The Amendments; Judicial Activism v. Judicial Restraint v. Judicial Originalism - The Rule of Law is Malleable? (Read the 14th Amendment) - Final Steps of the Course Paper Project... Reach an Opinion.

WEEK 14 (4/23 - 25) - TEST 3 - Over the "Bill of Limits"  OPINIONS DUE

Wednesday, May 2nd - Scheduled FINAL EXAM over the full course - POSC 201 Federal Systems of Government.