This semester-long survey course primarily aims to promote an understanding of the constitutional framework of law that guides our daily lives and the impact of Supreme Court rulings on that framework. The course material is designed to actively engage students in thought and personal reflection in numerous areas of American law, focusing on constitutional law, the Supreme Court, and an overview of criminal and tort law.

Students will begin by exploring what law is, what makes a good law, and how the Constitution and Supreme Court intersect to create the US legal system. The course will focus on landmark cases that define our constitutional rights. The course’s final section will be a quick survey of criminal and tort law with a focus on those issues that young people are most likely to encounter. Students will read, analyze, evaluate, debate, and write critically about American law. Discussion and arguing cases are major components of the course.

Students who wish to take this course for Advanced credit will be required to complete a capstone project over the course of the semester that includes creating a research question, conducting research with a required number of sources, writing an eight- to 10-page research paper, and presenting/defending their paper.