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Civil Rights SYLLABUS http://staff.gc.maricopa.edu/~tmcclory/cr.htm Course POS 223 3572 Fall 04 3 credits MWF 10:00–10:50a Glendale Community College Instructor: Toni McClory Telephone: (623) 845-3730 Email: [email protected] * The best way to reach me! Office: 05-135 (same building as bookstore) Office hours: MWF 8:00-9:00; MW 11:00–12:00; TR 11:30-12:00; other times by appointment Class website: http://staff.gc.maricopa.edu/~tmcclory/cr.htm (for handouts, assignments, study guides, extra credit, and interesting links) Required textbook Epstein & Walker, Constitutional Law for a Changing America: Rights, Liberties and Justice, 5th ed. (CQ Press 2004) About the course This course focuses on the constitutional guarantees of liberty and equality in six different contexts: freedom of expression, freedom of religion, personal privacy, the right to bear arms, criminal justice, and equal rights. Our primary text will be Supreme Court decisions. We will study landmark rulings as well as current contro-versies over abortion, affirmative action, assisted suicide, the death penalty, gay rights, hate speech, Internet pornography, school prayer, anti-terrorism measures, and more. Students should leave the course with a richer understanding of: (1) the diverse groups and viewpoints that make up American society; (2) the ten-sion that exists between personal freedom and social order; and (3) the courts’ pivotal role in resolving social conflict. POS 223 is designed for political science majors as well as for students interested in law, history, sociology, social work, philosophy, education, and business. The challenging reading and writing exercises will develop critical thinking skills that are beneficial to most professions. The course qualifies for both Cul-tural Diversity (C) and Social and Behavioral Science (SB) credit at ASU. There are no prerequisites. Classroom policies  The primary assignment in this course is to keep up with the reading. You are expected to come to class prepared to intelligently discuss the assigned cases. (In the beginning everyone has trouble reading Su-preme Court cases—don’t panic! It gets much easier with practice.)  Because a significant portion of the course will be presented by lecture, regular attendance is strongly ad-vised.  I accept late work. However, unless you have a compelling excuse there will be a 10% late penalty.  Do your own work!! All written submissions should be in your own words and syntax unless you are quot-ing and give proper attribution.There are no group projects in this class.  Please keep a copy of all your work until the end of the semester as insurance against loss by you or me.  Taping of lectures and class discussions is not permitted without permission. Please let me know if you have any special needs that require accommodation and make appropriate arrangements with the Disabil-ity and Services Office, 623.845.3080.Grading Your grade will be based upon the following point system: 8 short case briefs = 10 points each 2 papers = (first paper = 60 points; second paper = 100 points) Appellate court visit & write-up = 60 points 3 exams (multiple choice format) = 100 points each ================================================= Total points = 600 (without extra credit) The final grade will be assigned on a scale of: A = 540 or higher; B = 480–539; C = 420–538; D = 360–419; F = below 360. Strong classroom participation will be credited in borderline cases. Extra credit Extra credit assignments are posted on the class website. The assignments are designed to enrich the regular curriculum and are strongly encouraged. They can be turned in at any time up to the last regular class meet-ing. Up to 60 extra points can be earned. Important dates 9/8 Texas v. Johnson brief due 9/22 Exam 1 (bring scantron) 9/27 Paper 1 due 9/29 Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe brief due 10/11 Planned Parenthood v. Casey brief due 10/18 Exam 2 (bring scantron) 10/25 Terry v. Ohio brief due 11/1 Miranda v. Arizona brief due 11/10 Atkins v. Virginia brief due 11/24 Paper 2 due 11/29 U.S. v. Virginia brief due 12/8 Grutter v. Bollinger brief due 12/10 Court report due; last day to submit extra credit 12/15 Exam 3 (bring scantron)Civil Rights SCHEDULE http://staff.gc.maricopa.edu/~tmcclory/cr.htm The following reading and writing assignments should be completed by the date indicated below. “Ch” and “pp.” refer to the Epstein & Walker textbook. This is mostly background reading to acquaint you with the legal history and doctrines. I’ll be covering much of this material by lecture. Carefully read all of the italizied cases; these will be discussed in class and you will be expected to participate. Starred cases (*) are to be briefed. Online reading assignments can be accessed by a single click from the class website (go to “Assignments”). MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY 1. Rights, Liberties & courts 8/23 Introduction 8/25 Rights and liberties Lawrence v. Texas, p. 479 8/27 The Courts (pp. 10–21; 40–43) 1. Expression 8/30 Judicial review (ch. 2) Marbury v. Madison, p. 51 9/1 The nationalization of the Bill of Rights (ch.3) The nationalization of the Bill of Rights (online) 9/3 Freedom of Speech – Introduction Schenck v. United States, p. 217 9/6 Labor Day (no class) 9/8 Political dissent (pp. 214–264) Brandenburg v. Ohio, p. 242 Tinker v. Des Moines, p. 254 * Texas v. Johnson, p. 259 9/10 Fighting words (pp. 264–278) Chaplinsky v. New Hampshire, p. 265 Cohen v. California, p. 266 Hill v. Colorado, p. 272 9/13 Hate speech (pp. 278–288) R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, p. 280 Wisconsin v. Mitchell, p. 286 Virginia v. Black (online) 9/15 Obscenity and child pornography (pp. 348–395) Miller v. California, p. 367 Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition, p. 376 Reno v. ACLU, p. 381 9/17 Freedom of association; the right not to speak (pp. 311–317; 289–294) Boy Scouts of American v. Dale, p. 313 West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, p. 289MONDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY 3. Religion 9/20 Freedom of the press and defamation (pp. 319–350) Near v. Minnesota, p. 320 New York Times v. Sullivan, p. 396 Hustler Magazine v. Falwell, p. 411 9/22 * Exam 1 (bring a scantron) 9/24 Introduction (pp. 105–109) Everson v. Board of Education, p. 146 9/27 Establishment Clause (pp. 145–213) Lemon v.


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MCCCD POS 223 - Syllabus

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