Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga discusses legal definitions and development of the First Amendment's freedom of speech. He focuses on the 1989 U.S. Supreme Court Texas v. Johnson, which declared flag-burning an act of free speech and the 2003 Supreme Court case Virginia v. Black, which declared cross-burning a free-speech act. He begins with an examination of textual interpretation of the Constitution.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session nine, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor David Forte looks at the U.S. Constitution and its interpretation, focusing on how Supreme Court Justices have interpreted it—and their own role in lawmaking—throughout U.S. history.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesday, July ninth, 7:30 pm guest lecture; and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor David Forte discusses the relationship between religion, government, and law, focusing on the religious base of the U.S. government and the religious base of Islamic states.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the Wednesday, July ninth, 4:30 pm guest lecture; and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Ken Masugi examines the 1965 U.S. Supreme Court case Griswold v. Connecticut, in which the Supreme Court ruled that an 1879-established Connecticut law against the use of contraceptives violated a citizen's right to privacy. He looks at how this case interprets the Constitution.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session eight, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Ken Masugi looks at the 1944 U.S. Supreme Court case Korematsu v. U.S., in which the Supreme Court ruled that the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was constitutional—a ruling that still stands today. Masugi compares and contrasts the context and substance of this ruling with the current political and judicial stance on terrorists, looking at the U.S. Patriot Act and arguments over whether or not this document is constitutional.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session seven, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.

Professor Robert Alt examines the notion of limited government and how much the U.S. Supreme Court has held to this concept and contradicted it. He uses the 1995 U.S. Supreme Court case United States v. Lopez and the 1942 case Wickard v. Filburn, in both of which the Court used the Commerce Clause to allow the government power.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to the guest lecture after session six, and select the RealAudio link to the left.

Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga looks at the legal debate over affirmative action and how to enforce recognition of equality among U.S. citizens. He examines particularly court cases related to affirmative action polices, including the 2003 U.S. Supreme Court cases Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session six, and select the RealAudio link to the left.

Professor Ken Masugi follows the establishment of the doctrine of "separate but equal" and its opposition and eventual downfall from a legal perspective. He examines particularly the 1896 Supreme Court case Plessy v. Ferguson and the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session five, and select the RealAudio link to the left.

Professor Ken Masugi examines the 1856 U.S. Supreme Court case Dred Scott v. Sandford, in which the slave Dred Scott argued that, as he had lived and worked in both a free state and a free territory, he was now legally free. The case was decided against Scott, ruling that no African American could be a citizen and that Congress could not prohibit slavery in the territories. Masugi uses the case to look at the Court and Constitution's use and role in the Civil War.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session four, and select the RealAudio link to the left.

Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga looks at the 1819 U.S. Supreme Court case McCulloch v. Maryland, in which a cashier of the Baltimore branch of the Second National Bank of the United States petitioned against the state of Maryland for obstructing the functioning of that bank. Sikkenga looks at how the decision against Maryland, under Chief Justice John Marshall, established the Constitution as the basis of justice in the U.S.

To listen to this lecture, scroll to session three, and select the Real Audio link to the left of the main text.