OSHER 66 - Individual Rights and the Constitution - Part 2: First Amendment, Speech, and Religion

This class will explore the U.S. Constitution, focusing on the First Amendment's prohibition of laws abridging freedom of speech, and those respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting its free exercise. The bulk of our study and discussion will concern the development of federal law respecting these protections. We will review a number of Supreme Court cases in their historical contexts, addressing these First Amendment protections, and will look closely at the cases in this area that were scheduled for argument and decision before the U.S. Supreme Court in its October 2017 session. This course is intended to be the second of three exploring the Constitution's protections of individual rights, and while there is no prerequisite for this class, it will build upon materials covered in the first course in the series.