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#Constitutional Law Classes and Courses Overview

Essential Information

Law students pursuing a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree in constitutional law take courses focusing on issues related to constitutional governments and the history and basis of the U.S. Constitution. Many constitutional law courses are based on specific rights granted by the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.

Some topics that are covered in constitutional law courses include the supreme court, constitutional amendments, and the death penalty. These courses equip students with an understanding of how constitutional laws have been interpreted in the past, and how they can be applied to current events.

List of Constitutional Law Courses

Continue reading; the list below offers more details about what students of constitutional law study in class.

Constitutional Law

A required course in the first or second semester of most J.D. programs, this course covers the basis for the U.S. Constitution. Ideas of separation of powers and the authority of congress, the presidency and the courts are studied in depth. History of the U.S. Constitution is also covered. This course lays the foundation for much of what law students study throughout their degree programs.

Supreme Court

The fundamental workings of the U.S. Supreme Court are examined in this course. Students learn how cases are chosen and decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. This course is useful to constitutional law students who may have to bring a case before the high court one day. This course may be taken in the second year of study.

First Amendment

The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution grants the freedom of religion and association. This course covers issues of what is protected and what is not protected by this amendment. Current and historic legal cases related to this amendment are reviewed, including major opinions of the U.S. Supreme Court. This course is generally taken in the second year of law school as an elective course.

Fourteenth Amendment

The Fourteenth Amendment grants equal protection and due process to those accused of crimes. This constitutional law course covers issues of discrimination in legal cases and an accused person's ability to have a fair trial. The amendment is dissected into clauses and each clause is studied individually. Students generally take this course in the second year as an elective.

Death Penalty and the Constitution

This course focuses on the use of the death penalty in the United States and its constitutionality. Students analyze the cruel and unusual punishment prohibition of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution as it applies to the death penalty. This course may be taken in the second year of law school.

Comparative Constitutional Law

In this course students study the approaches countries use to protect individual rights. In comparing constitutions and legal systems of different societies, students learn commonalities and differences that are useful in understanding U.S. law. This course is an elective course.