America's Unwritten Constitution

Universidad de Yale

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An introduction to basic techniques of constitutional interpretation.

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Aprox. 18 horas para completar

Inglés (English)

Subtítulos: Inglés (English), Chino (simplificado)

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Obtén un certificado al finalizar

100 % en línea

Comienza de inmediato y aprende a tu propio ritmo.

Fechas límite flexibles

Restablece las fechas límite en función de tus horarios.

Aprox. 18 horas para completar

Inglés (English)

Subtítulos: Inglés (English), Chino (simplificado)

Instructor

Akhil Reed Amar

Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science

Yale Law School

31,852 alumnos

2 cursos

ofrecido por

Universidad de Yale

For more than 300 years, Yale University has inspired the minds that inspire the world. Based in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale brings people and ideas together for positive impact around the globe. A research university that focuses on students and encourages learning as an essential way of life, Yale is a place for connection, creativity, and innovation among cultures and across disciplines.

Programa - Qué aprenderás en este curso

Calificación del contenido95%(1,266 calificaciones)

Semana

Semana 1

2 horas para completar

Introduction

Hello everyone and welcome to America’s Unwritten Constitution! This course is designed to teach you some of the basic tool and techniques for constitutional interpretation. Over the next 13 modules, Professor Akhil Amar will teach you how to go beyond the text of the U.S. Constitution, while still remaining faithful to it. Please, take some time to watch the two introductory videos and read through some of the course information below. Enjoy!

2 horas para completar

2 videos (Total 24 minutos), 7 lecturas

2 videos

Welcome!2m

America's Unwritten Constitution Introduction21m

7 lecturas

Pre-Course Survey10m

Begin Here10m

Meet the Instructor10m

Grading and Logistics10m

Bonus Material10m

Heeding the Deed

Heeding the Deed, refers to the technique of understanding the Constitution further by looking at issues the nation was dealing with at the time of the passage's adoption. Another way to say this could be; putting yourself in the framer's shoes.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 46 minutos)

2 videos

Heeding the Deed, Part 122m

Heeding the Deed, Part 223m

1 hora para completar

Reading Between the Lines

This module teaches the interpretive technique of reading between the lines. This involves extracting, from the text, things that are implicit, but not expressly stated.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 50 minutos)

2 videos

Reading Between the Lines, Part 123m

Reading Between the Lines, Part 226m

Semana

Semana 2

1 hora para completar

Hearing the People

In this module, we explore a number of unenumerated rights that exist simply because Americans embody these rights in their everyday lives. Owning pets, using contraception, testifying at one’s own trial, none of these are explicitly mentioned in the text of the Constitution, yet today, they are recognized as protected fundamental rights. Professor Amar explains why.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 49 minutos)

2 videos

Hearing the People, Part 126m

Hearing the People, Part 222m

1 hora para completar

Confronting Modern Case Law

The "Confronting Modern Case Law" lectures take a closer look at the Warren-lead Supreme Court. Spanning from 1953 to 1969, his court decided many of the most influential cases is U.S. history. Brown v. Board of Education, Miranda v. Arizona, Griswold v. Connecticut to name a few. Professor Amar, will discuss how the court arrived at their decisions, how these rulings changed American society at the time and how they are still affecting it today.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 59 minutos)

2 videos

Confronting Modern Case Law, Part 131m

Confronting Modern Case Law, Part 228m

1 ejercicio de práctica

Mastery Quiz 118m

Semana

Semana 3

1 hora para completar

Putting Precedent in its Place

Professor Amar discusses the role that precedent—that is, prior court decisions—plays in our understanding of the document. He will answer questions about how far courts should go when interpreting the Constitution, and what courts might do when they believe that a prior decision was incorrect.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 49 minutos)

2 videos

Putting Precedent in Its Place, Part 125m

Putting Precedent in Its Place, Part 223m

3 horas para completar

Honoring the Icons

Here we'll examine documents outside of the Constitution that influence our understanding of the founding text—things like the Declaration of Independence, The Federalist papers, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream speech. Professor Amar will explain how these sources have offered meaning and guidance in constitutional interpretation.

3 horas para completar

2 videos (Total 51 minutos)

2 videos

Honoring the Icons, Part 128m

Honoring the Icons, Part 222m

Semana

Semana 4

1 hora para completar

Remembering the Ladies

These lectures explore the profound changes American society underwent immediately following the ratification of the 19th amendment. The reverberations of women's enfranchisement are still being strongly felt today. Prof. Amar will highlight some legislation, he believes, directly or indirectly owe their existence to the 19th amendment.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 49 minutos)

2 videos

"Remembering the Ladies," Part 123m

"Remembering the Ladies," Part 225m

1 hora para completar

Following Washington's Lead

Undoubtedly, the figure who looms largest in U.S. political history is George Washington. His actions before, during, and after the Presidency set precedents for the executive office which are still observed today. Prof. Amar will explain why Article II of the Constitution was custom written for our first president.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 44 minutos)

2 videos

Following Washington's Lead, Part 123m

Following Washington's Lead, Part 220m

1 ejercicio de práctica

Mastery Quiz 214m

Semana

Semana 5

1 hora para completar

Interpreting Government Practices

This module delves into how the actual structure of each government branch inherently effects their interactions with one another. The framers purposefully under-specified sections of the Constitution, leaving room for flexibility. They rightly assumed future law makers would fill these “gaps” in procedure as need arose. Indeed they have, each time a gap is discovered and bridged, a new precedent is set. Professor Amar will highlight several examples of these powers-set-by-precendent, for each branch of government

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 54 minutos)

2 videos

Interpreting Government Practices, Part 124m

Interpreting Government Practices, Part 229m

3 horas para completar

Joining the Party

In this module, Prof. Amar chronicles the adoption and evolution of the two party system in America. You'll learn which framers founded each party and how the creation of the parties caused great friction in government. The lectures go on to explain how the Constitution changed to accommodate the two party system and how these changes have made to the two party system inextricably codified into the Document.

3 horas para completar

2 videos (Total 40 minutos)

2 videos

Joining the Party, Part 124m

Joining the Party, Part 216m

Semana

Semana 6

1 hora para completar

Doing the Right Thing

This module discusses the role of conscience in government. It is important for us to remember, the Constitution did not implement itself. It was implemented by human beings with minds, hearts, and consciences. Understanding the interaction between these “human elements” and the text is fundamental to proper interpretation of the Constitution. We’ll go over several codified manifestations of the "human element" in the Constitution, such as the veto and juror nullification.

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 50 minutos)

2 videos

Doing the Right Thing, Part 123m

Doing the Right Thing, Part 226m

1 hora para completar

Envisioning the Future

In the course’s final lectures, we’ll look to the future and ask, "what will the constitution look like in 25 years? 50 years? 100?" Might we soon see an amendment allowing for a foreign born president? Or the dissolution of the Electoral College? Prof. Amar will discuss the idea of "constitutional trajectory," and the factors which affect it. We’ll go over how today’s legislators can be looked at as "framers of the future.” Which will lead to the very interesting topic of “sunrise legislation."

1 hora para completar

2 videos (Total 49 minutos)

2 videos

Envisioning the Future, Part 123m

Envisioning the Future, Part 225m

1 ejercicio de práctica

Mastery Quiz 320m

1 hora para completar

Bonus Content Archive

This content is not tied to the assessment materials in any way but it is interesting, entertaining, and informative nonetheless. We encourage all learners to take some time to watch these videos and post about them in the discussion forums!

1 hora para completar

5 videos (Total 67 minutos)

5 videos

Bonus Content: Racial Discrimination in Housing14m

Bonus Content: Same-Sex Marriage 10m

Modalities of Constitutional Interpretation 9m

Bonus Content: 4th Amendment Exclusionary Rule19m

Bonus Video: Walker v. Sons Of Confederate Veterans13m

1 hora para completar

Conclusion

Prof. Amar recapitulate concepts learned in this course and discuss his hopes for you all; the matriculants of America’s Unwritten Constitution. We sincerely hope you all have enjoyed the course and learned something along the way! Thank you so much for your time and effort.

1 hora para completar

1 video (Total 28 minutos), 1 lectura

1 video

Conclusion27m

1 lectura

Post- Course Survey10m

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America's Unwritten Constitution