OSHER 133 - The Blessings of Liberty: U.S. Constitution, Amendments I, IV, V and XIV

This class will explore Amendments to the U.S. Constitution that protect our rights to free speech, press, assembly, privacy, free exercise of religion, and due process of law (Amendments 1, 4, 5, and 14). We will examine the sources and historical context of these Amendments, as well as the leading cases over the last 230 years that have interpreted and enforced them. As to each topic, we will look closely at decisions of the Roberts Court and the extent to which the historical direction of the Court may be changing in response to a changing political and judicial climate. There will be no required reading, other than the Constitution, but there will be recommended readings for those who wish to dig deeper.