Online Seminar Series
US Supreme Court—Decisions and Interpretations
Sunday, December 10, 2023
In this seminar series we will explore Supreme Court decisions that have helped define what it means to live in a constitutional republic. Ranging from the powers of government as articulated by the Court in its early days to the impact of its decisions in the 21st century on civil and individual rights, we will examine the nature of the Court’s various—and sometimes competing–interpretations of the Constitution. The roles of the Declaration of Independence and the 14th Amendment will be a particular area of focus in seeing how the Court has drawn upon principles of “equal protection” and “human dignity” in its rulings. The goal will be to come away with a more informed citizen’s view of the Court’s contributions to our understanding of the “rule of law” in both its political and Constitutional meaning.
There will be six meetings in the series, once per month:
Sunday, September 17
Sunday, October 15
Sunday, November 12
Sunday, December 10
Sunday, January 14
Sunday, February 11
Central Text:
Supreme Court Decisions
Penguin Books; 1st edition (August 2012)
ISBN 978-0143121992
December 10 Reading:
Supreme Court Decisions – Chapter 1 – (Cooper v. Aaron, pages 12-15), Chapter 4 – Civil Rights (pages 89-109). Also, Tocqueville – Why Democratic Nations Show a More Ardent And
Enduring Love of Equality Than of Liberty
Schedule:
2:00-4:00PM PST
(please note later than usual weekend time)
Tutor:
Karl Haigler
Location:
Online. Register to receive the link.