US Constitution
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Reading and Writing Workshop
Understanding the U.S. Constitution
Overview:
This workshop explores the U.S. Constitution’s origins, structure, principles, and evolving interpretation through primary texts and analytical writing. Each session includes close readings of public domain documents and opportunities to write about constitutional ideas, debates, and applications.
Session 1: Origins and Influences
Focus: Philosophical and historical roots of the Constitution
Readings:
How did Enlightenment philosophy and English legal tradition shape the framers’ vision of government?
Session 2: Drafting the Constitution
Focus: The Constitutional Convention and the compromises involved
Readings:
Analyze a key debate (representation, slavery, or executive power). How was it resolved, and what were the consequences?
Session 3: The Constitution (Preamble and Articles I–VII)
Focus: Structure and foundational principles of the Constitution
Readings:
Choose one Article of the Constitution and explain how it reflects the principle of limited government or separation of powers.
Session 4: The Federalist Papers and Ratification Debates
Focus: Arguments for and against ratification
Readings:
Compare the Federalist and Anti-Federalist positions on the power of the central government. Whose arguments seem more persuasive today?
Session 5: The Bill of Rights
Focus: Civil liberties and protections from government overreach
Readings:
Choose one amendment. Analyze its original intent and how it applies in contemporary society.
Session 6: Expansion of Rights and Amendments
Focus: Key amendments after the Bill of Rights (e.g., 13th, 14th, 19th)
Readings:
Discuss how one post–Bill of Rights amendment has transformed American society or expanded democracy.
Session 7: The Constitution and the Courts
Focus: Interpretation by the judiciary
Readings:
Explain how judicial review strengthens or weakens constitutional democracy. Use Marbury v. Madison as your case study.
Session 8: The Constitution in Modern Times
Focus: Ongoing constitutional challenges and debates
Readings:
How has constitutional interpretation evolved? Analyze a recent case and its relation to constitutional principles.
Overview:
This workshop explores the U.S. Constitution’s origins, structure, principles, and evolving interpretation through primary texts and analytical writing. Each session includes close readings of public domain documents and opportunities to write about constitutional ideas, debates, and applications.
Session 1: Origins and Influences
Focus: Philosophical and historical roots of the Constitution
Readings:
- Magna Carta (1215)
https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/featured-documents/magna-carta - The Declaration of Independence (1776)
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript
How did Enlightenment philosophy and English legal tradition shape the framers’ vision of government?
Session 2: Drafting the Constitution
Focus: The Constitutional Convention and the compromises involved
Readings:
- Records of the Federal Convention of 1787 (Selections from Madison’s Notes)
https://www.loc.gov/item/10030387/
Analyze a key debate (representation, slavery, or executive power). How was it resolved, and what were the consequences?
Session 3: The Constitution (Preamble and Articles I–VII)
Focus: Structure and foundational principles of the Constitution
Readings:
- The U.S. Constitution (Preamble and Articles)
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/constitution-transcript
Choose one Article of the Constitution and explain how it reflects the principle of limited government or separation of powers.
Session 4: The Federalist Papers and Ratification Debates
Focus: Arguments for and against ratification
Readings:
- Federalist No. 10 by James Madison
https://guides.loc.gov/federalist-papers/text-1-10#s-lg-box-wrapper-25493252 - Anti-Federalist Paper No. 1
https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/afpbrutus.asp
Compare the Federalist and Anti-Federalist positions on the power of the central government. Whose arguments seem more persuasive today?
Session 5: The Bill of Rights
Focus: Civil liberties and protections from government overreach
Readings:
- The Bill of Rights (Amendments I–X)
https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/bill-of-rights-transcript
Choose one amendment. Analyze its original intent and how it applies in contemporary society.
Session 6: Expansion of Rights and Amendments
Focus: Key amendments after the Bill of Rights (e.g., 13th, 14th, 19th)
Readings:
- Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, 15th)
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/13th-amendment
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/14th-amendment
https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/15th-amendment
Discuss how one post–Bill of Rights amendment has transformed American society or expanded democracy.
Session 7: The Constitution and the Courts
Focus: Interpretation by the judiciary
Readings:
- Marbury v. Madison (1803) (Summary and opinion)
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/5/137
Explain how judicial review strengthens or weakens constitutional democracy. Use Marbury v. Madison as your case study.
Session 8: The Constitution in Modern Times
Focus: Ongoing constitutional challenges and debates
Readings:
- Selected Modern Supreme Court Decisions (e.g., Brown v. Board, Roe v. Wade, Citizens United)
https://www.oyez.org/ (Search and read summaries of specific cases)
How has constitutional interpretation evolved? Analyze a recent case and its relation to constitutional principles.