Professor Jeffrey Sikkenga examines freedom of speech and continues on to examine the definition and development of the rights of individuals formally accused of crime. He focuses on the 1966 Supreme Court case Miranda v. Arizona and the 2000 case Dickerson v. U.S., which established and upheld the "Miranda rights"—that is, the reading of an individual's rights to silence and representation upon arrest.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session 11, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
Professor Ken Masugi discusses legal definitions and development of the First Amendment's freedom of religion. He focuses on the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court case Lee v. Weisman, in which the Supreme Court decided in favor of continued limitation of prayer in public schools.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to session 10, and select the RealAudio link to the left of the main body of text.
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 Douglas W. Kmiec examines the relationship between the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, looking at what the two documents actually say, how they are commonly interpreted, and what the Founders' original intentions may have been. He also examines where the rights described in both originate from—that is, the concept of natural law.
To listen to this lecture, scroll to the guest lecture before session seven, and select the RealAudio link to the left.
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.