Constitutional Structure and Rights

This unit examines how the Constitution allocates power among the branches of government and between the national and state governments while surveying core individual rights that limit government action. Students investigate separation of powers, federalism, due process, property and contract protections, firearm regulation issues, and equal protection to prepare for more advanced doctrinal and policy analysis.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze scenarios of interbranch conflict and cooperation by applying separation-of-powers principles and citing relevant constitutional provisions and precedent
• Apply federalism doctrines to determine whether federal or state authority governs in contested policy areas, distinguishing enumerated, concurrent, and reserved powers
• Evaluate procedural and substantive due process claims in fact patterns by identifying applicable standards, burdens of proof, and appropriate judicial remedies
• Analyze constitutional protections for property, contracts, and firearms and assess claims of governmental discrimination under equal protection frameworks to propose legally supported resolutions