Beginning Constitutional Law

Course Overview:

Beginning Constitutional Law will be an avenue for students to explore the Constitution, civil liberties, civil rights, and a practical understanding of law. Students will be prepared to recognize and understand how the law works in their communities and throughout the country. The class will attempt to show learners how the law strives to promote fairness, equal justice, and individual rights.

Instructional Units Duration

Comparative visions of law and justice,
Historical influences of American Constitutionalism, 2 weeks

The Creation of the Constitution and the Federalist papers 2 weeks

The emergence of Judicial review

Judicial philosophy 1 week

Power of Congress, President 1 week

Practical law: Civil, Criminal, Corporate 3 weeks

14^th amendment: Due Process 3 weeks

1^st and 2^nd amendments 3 weeks

14^th amendment: Equal Protection of the Law 3 weeks

Student Assessment:

Students will be graded using a variety of assessment tools including (but not limited to) short response papers, longer research papers, in-class speeches and debates, short quizzes, in-depth unit tests, and homework. While students will not be graded on their attendance, it will be impossible to recreate the in-class debates and discussions.

Grading

Students will have the opportunity to earn 200-300 points each semester. The grading scale will be as follows:

90-100% A 80-89% B 70-79% C

60-69% D Below 60% F

Assignments

· Students can expect to have assigned homework every night.

· Papers should be typed or neatly handwritten

· If a student has a serious problem that may delay their turning in an assignment, they may speak to Mr. Koepping BEFORE the due date to determine if an extension is possible.

Make-up work (for excused absences)

	Any assignment made prior to a student’s excused absence is due on the day of their return to class.
	Missed tests will be made up within a week of the student’s return during a time agreed upon with the teacher.
	Assignments given during an excused absence are usually due one class day for every class day of absence after the student’s return. So a student missing three periods will have four class periods to submit make-up work (three periods plus the day of their initial return). Students who need more time should speak to Mr. Koepping as soon as they return from the absence.

Make-up work (for unexcused absences)

· Tests that are not taken and assignments that are not turned in because of unexcused absences will not be accepted upon the student’s return. Students will receive a zero for those assignments and those tests.

Late work

	Taking into account the vagaries of high school life, Mr. Koepping will accept work one calendar day late for full credit. If an assignment were due on Monday, he would accept it on Tuesday (but not Wednesday morning) for full credit.
	Students will lose 10 percent of the value of an assignment for each additional calendar day (excluding weekends) the work is late. For example an assignment that is due on a Monday that is turned in on Wednesday will be worth a maximum of 90 percent of the points possible, on Thursday that would fall to 80 percent, on Friday it would be worth a maximum of 70 percent. Work that is more than three calendar days late (excluding weekends) will not be accepted.
	Work or makeup tests will also not be accepted after a quarter or semester is completed. A quarter or semester is considered complete when the students have attended the final class of that grading period.

Instructional Resources:

Text: Street Law: A Course in Practical Law, West Publishing Company