Constitutional Law
Final Paper or Project
Due Date: May 23, 2023
For your final paper, you must research and discuss an issue covered under the syllabus or a case pending before the Supreme Court. You may present your research and discussion in a final paper (minimum five pages) or a visual presentation, such as a podcast or video. You may work on your visual presentation with a partner or group. Everyone in the group working on the presentation must submit a 1-page description of your project. You will receive an incomplete if you do not submit a one page response along with the podcast.
Here are some guidelines to help you get started:
Step 1: Pick an area of interest based on the syllabus. Example: Freedom of Speech
Step 2: What question are you interested in exploring. Example: The right to carry a gun at a protest
Step 3: Consider whether there are real life examples of this issue: Example: Individuals carrying guns at a Black Lives Matter Protest
Step 4: What has the Supreme Court decided in prior cases?: Example: Look at the seminal gun rights case: Heller v. D.C. or Chaplinsky and the fighting words doctrine.
Step 5: Research the history of this issue! Example: Why do we even have the 2nd amendment. What is the basis for fighting words.
Step 6: If the issue were before the Supreme Court, how do you think the court would decide based on these past cases?
Step 7: Conclusion: What would you decide? Example: I think the individuals should have the right to carry guns at a protest because. . .
Suggestions for video presentations:
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You can interview each other
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You can interview other individuals (example – speak to someone who went to a protest).
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Include relevant music and images
Topic suggestions:
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Is the death penalty constitutional?
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Is abortion a fundamental right?
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Should a protestor be allowed to carry a gun during a protest?
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Should people with felony convictions be allowed to vote?
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Should schools be allowed to consider a student’s race as part of his or her school application?
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If you could rewrite the Constitution, what rights would you explicitly include?