Learn the fundamentals of Constitutional Law, with emphasis on the first ten amendments, (The Bill of Rights). The course will include a history of the Bill of Rights, important cases which have dealt with and interpreted these rights, and the challenges facing the maintenance of the freedoms guaranteed by the constitution in the modern world. Discussions will include the fact that following the events of September 11, 2001, Americans are faced with the prospect of making choices between increased security and the curtailing of certain individual freedoms, such as the right of privacy.

You'll be encouraged to delve into the problems associated with making such choices, and when and where they may really be necessary. This is a course designed to educate students about the important fundamentals of a free society and how such a society can be preserved, even in an uncertain world. It is highly interactive with challenging lessons and assignments. If you're working in the legal field, or as a teacher or journalist, or you're just interested in history and current events, this is the course for you.

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Syllabus:

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

A new section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

In our first lesson, you'll learn about the lengthy and often difficult process that ultimately led to the adoption of the Constitution of the United States. You'll learn why so many Americans in the newly formed nation felt that a Bill of Rights was so important, and how they came to choose the first 10 amendments to the Constitution, also known as the Bill of Rights. You'll also get an overview of the lessons to come as we explore each of the amendments individually.

Friday - Lesson 02

Today, you'll begin learning about the specifics of the Bill of Rights. We'll start by exploring the very important provisions of the First Amendment that protect freedom of speech and freedom of the press. You'll discover how the courts have interpreted the provisions, and what limitations the courts have placed on these basic freedoms over the years. We'll also discuss the impact that the events of 9/11 had on the amendment, as well as the status of the politically correct speech movement.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

Today you'll learn all about the other provisions of the First Amendment that deal with freedom of religion and freedom of assembly. We'll discuss the concept of "separation of church and state"—where it came from and how the courts are interpreting it. You'll learn about some citizens' attempts to amend the Constitution to limit the power of the courts in this area. We'll also discuss the right to free assembly, the implicit right of freedom of association, and how these issues have been affected by terrorism.

Friday - Lesson 04

The debate over gun control rages on, so in this lesson we'll take a close look at both sides' views on the Second Amendment to the Constitution, which provides for our "right to keep and bear arms." What does it really mean and how is it currently being viewed by the courts? You'll also learn about the often-overlooked Third Amendment that deals with the quartering of troops. Is it really just an outdated amendment or does it contain provisions that have implications in the future?

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

The Fourth Amendment contains the provisions that protect us from unreasonable searches and seizures by governmental authorities. This amendment has been interpreted and reinterpreted by the courts over the years. In today's lesson, you'll learn how it finally came to be applied to the states and what protections it really provides. We'll also take a close look at the Patriot Act and explore why some people believe it threatens our Fourth Amendment rights.

Friday - Lesson 06

The Fifth Amendment contains many provisions you'll find fascinating. It provides for the right against self-incrimination in a criminal trial and contains the all important "due process" clause. We'll discuss the procedures the police must follow in order to obtain an admissible confession, and we'll talk about the status of the Miranda Warning. We'll also look closely at what the due process clause means in today's world.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

The Sixth Amendment provides for protections that are given to defendants in criminal cases. We'll discuss the defendant's right to a trial by jury, to a speedy trial, and to confront witnesses. You'll learn how juries are chosen in criminal cases, and how the courts have enforced the right to counsel for those charged with crimes.

Friday - Lesson 08

In this lesson, we'll look at other aspects of courtroom procedure provided by the Seventh Amendment, as well as the protections against excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment that are contained in the Eighth Amendment. You'll enter the debate over the death penalty and learn how it has evolved over the years. You'll also find out how and when this ultimate penalty can be imposed.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

The courts often overlooked the provisions of the Ninth and 10th Amendments for many years. In today's lesson, we'll discuss the real importance of the Ninth Amendment when it comes to the unenumerated rights of the people. Then we'll look at the 10th Amendment and review the issue of state's rights, as provided in that amendment. You'll also learn about the evolution of the importance of the commerce clause and how its application has revived the use of the 10th Amendment in court.

Friday - Lesson 10

Not all of our rights are contained in the first 10 amendments to the Constitution. In this lesson, we'll discuss the critical right to vote and its stormy history. You'll learn how the right to vote has been limited over the years and how the Constitution had to be amended in order to secure the right to vote for every American citizen. We'll also delve into the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and see how its passage and interpretation have changed many aspects of constitutional law.

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Now that you've examined the Bill of Rights and other important areas of the Constitution, it's time to prepare to do battle in court. In this challenging and fascinating lesson, you'll learn how and when to raise constitutional claims in both criminal and civil cases. We'll look at examples of successful courtroom strategies and discover how to prepare and present a winning case.

Friday - Lesson 12

The course will conclude with a bang. We'll look at the future of our Constitution, particularly the increasing efforts by various groups to change it or bypass it. We'll discuss such controversial issues as the alleged abuse of power by federal judges and prosecutors, zero tolerance policies adopted by schools, and efforts to limit the rights of certain plaintiffs to sue for damages. Finally, you'll get a chance to make your feelings known about these issues, as well as the overall future of our Constitution.

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Michael Connelly.

Michael Connelly is a former practicing attorney who specialized in trial law. He has tried and won hundreds of cases in virtually all areas of the law including constitutional, personal injury, juvenile, divorce and child custody, contract disputes, and criminal law. He has tried cases in both state and federal courts, winning several landmark decisions during his years of practice. He's also an expert in the preparation of legal briefs and memorandums. Connelly retired from active practice in 2000 and is now a published author, freelance writer, and teacher.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

Student Reviews:

"Another wonderful class for from a wonderful instructor. I would love to take a live class from Mr. Connelly and feel the strength of his expertise."

"Before taking this course, I felt I had a reasonable grasp of the rights we have as Americans. This was truly an eye-opening course. I didn't know the depth and the professor has encompassed the constitution for a well-rounded concept. I know there is much more to it and the course sets a great foundation."

"Excellent class! Very interesting, informative and useful. Michael obviously knows the material thoroughly and imparts that knowledge - as well as a passion for the subject - very well. I especially liked his real-life examples. Reading about his experiences helped me understand the practical application of the concepts taught."

"Excellent course. I feel it is much needed and that citizens should know the truth about our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Perhaps that would make a different in our country and the way it operates."

"Excellent course -- I recommend it for everyone, not only those in the legal field!"

"Excellent course - it really helped me understand the Bill of Rights to a greater extent. When I hear stories on the news discussing a person's constitutional rights, I tune in closer and apply my newfound knowledge to the story. Thanks for the great coursework!"

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

"Found this to be interesting and useful. I teach High School history and this will provide me with additional material."

"Great class, very interesting!"

"Great course, I wish there was another class on this topic."

"Great go at your own pace course! Ample time is given to complete assignments."

"Great job, Michael. I really enjoyed this. If you taught other online classes, I'd likely take them."

"I am so glad that I took this class, I found it to be very educational. I will recommend this class to others. The instructor was great and made the class very interesting! Went by too quick."

"I find this instructor's expertise is not just limited to the legal field; but expands to many areas of life."

"I found this course to be an excellent overview of the Constitution and highly recommend it for anyone concerned about their fundamental rights."

"I highly recommend this class to anyone who comes into contact with Constitutional issues - essentially, anyone living in the United States and its territories. Professor Connelly has an uncannily frightening mastery of Constitutional Law and it was a pleasure to take his course."

"I loved this course! I learned a lot about the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the remaining amendments to the Constitution. I wish I had more time to take the classes as they were released rather than having to take them in bunches as my work schedule allowed. I am sure I would have learned even more by actively participating in the discussion areas. I read all the discussion areas and I also reviewed all the supplementary sites that Michael provided. Terrific experience. Thank you so much!!"

"I'm a court reporter and this course should be mandatory for our field!"

"I'm not a lawyer, but just took the course "for fun". I really enjoyed it. The lessons were just short/long enough to read while I worked out and the 2 week buffer worked for my schedule. Great instructor-good personality!"

"I really enjoyed this class. I would take another class from this instructor."

"I really enjoyed this class! The instructor is very knowledgeable, but makes the lessons easy to understand, and extremely interesting, by using examples, and real cases of his own. Once you take this class, it really opens your eyes to how our Constitution has stood the test of time, how it affects our everyday lives, and that much of our freedoms and rights we take for granted, could be in jeopardy. I highly recommend this course to everyone!"

"I really enjoyed this course and could not ask for a better instructor! Mr. Connelly made this course exceptionally interesting! I can't wait to take his other courses."

"I REALLY enjoyed this course and could not ask for a better instructor! Mr. Connelly made this course EXCEPTIONALLY interesting! I can't wait to take his other courses!"

"I really enjoyed this course and would definitely recommend it to anyone. The instructor was great; the material was well-written, concise, and easy to follow and understand. I took several Constitutional law classes during my undergraduate studies, and this course would rank in the very best that I have taken. I hope to take another class similar to this one with the same instructor......Thanks, Michael, you were great! Excellent class."

"I really enjoyed this course. It gave me greater insight into the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the knowledge I gained will be useful to me. Michael posted replies to discussion questions in a matter of hours. Considering I did a lot of the work on weekends, at really strange hours, this was very impressive!"

"I thought that Constitutional Law would be boring but...I sure was wrong. This was far more interesting than I ever imagined. Thanks for such a great opportunity."

"I took this course primarily for self-enlightenment. It was very interesting. More people should study the constitution and the Bill of Rights - it would help this country. Thank you for a very informative class."

"It was a fun class. It went so fast and I learned so much. He made the experience great."

"It was just awesome, I loved it. I never had so much pleasure in following a course."

"I've enjoyed this instructor for two courses I have taken and I like his style and the way he presents the information. I would like to see more basic courses offered with this instructor."

"I was extremely satisfied with the instructor and the way the lessons were taught. I felt that the instructor was very helpful and diligent in the preparation of this course. I would strongly encourage anyone that I know to take this course."

"I was pleasantly surprised with this course. I assumed it to be dull and boring, but could not have been more wrong. It was very interesting and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I only wished that I had more time to research the issues."

"I would like to thank Michael for having another interesting course. I enjoyed the course and got a lot out of it. I hope you have more classes coming…Thank you again Michael for a job well done in my opinion."

"I would recommend this course to others interested in this subject. As a matter of fact I have recommended it to a Paralegal Graduate whom I recently met. I enjoy the way Mr. Connelly teaches and comments back in the discussion area. He is very encouraging and causes you to really think issues through."

"Loved this course."

"Michael, This course has been a tremendous uplift to my spirits. As I applied myself to the course, per your specific instructions, there was only one direction to take, and that was 'forward'. I would suggest this course to all seriously minded individuals. Thank you."

"Mr. Connelly is an excellent instructor and he made this a great learning experience for me. I will look for other enrichment classes where he is the instructor."

"Mr. Connelly was great."

"Particularly rewarding was instructor's experiences and insights which he brought to the course resulting in long-lasting memories and effects. Wealth of resources provided! Unique instructor who combines knowledge, experience, insight, and humanistic qualities!"

"Thank you for an incredibly informative class. What an eye opener! I think you should change the name of this course to, "Wake Up America!""

"Thank you, Michael. It was an experience."

"The classes were very well written and I really enjoyed this course. The classes were just long enough and the summaries were perfect."

"The last time I studied the Bill of Rights in depth was in the 7th grade; I am most thankful for the increased knowledge and depth of understanding I received from this course!"

"The lessons were clear and easy to follow. The case catalog helped me to research. I learned more about my rights as an individual. The course cleared up confusion and misconceptions I had about the Bill of Rights. Everyone should learn about the Constitution regardless of whether he or she wants to pursue a legal career. It is every citizen's responsibility to understand the Constitution of our government and how we can assure our rights and freedom are protected. Our instructor was fair and impartial and was expert in playing the Devil's Advocate to make us think and to challenge our assumptions. If I were a client, I would have the utmost confidence in him as my attorney."

"This class was a very interesting and thought-provoking class. It has raised my awareness of laws and decisions ruled on by the courts. It's stimulated my interest to be more involved in local government as well."

"This course exceeded my expectations for an on-line course."

"This course really cleared up a lot of misconceptions I had about the Bill of Rights and the history behind them. I have a new respect for them and a much deeper understanding."

"This was a great course. I teach Government and this will greatly enhance my lessons on the Constitution and Bill of Rights. I really enjoyed this course."

"This was a great course. The instructor was interactive on all levels. I will be able to take what I have learned and apply it to my current position."

"This was an excellent class and I think Mr. Connelly is an excellent instructor and made the class what it is. I look forward to more classes like this and would like to see more classes offered."

"This was a very thought provoking course for me. I learned some new things about the Constitution and it was really good to be able to interact with with a real live Constitutional Law attorney."

"This was a well-organized and interesting course that was continually being presented in the context of current affairs. The instructor used personal experience to supplement normal text material in an excellent manner."

"Very good course! A must-do for any legal professional (or any person interested in law & legal careers)."

"Very interesting course, and learned a lot that actually should have been taught in school"

"Wow... I only did this out of curiosity.... Now I'm more interested than ever. I will certainly pursue this further, including taking additional courses..."

"I'm a court reporter and this course should be mandatory for our field!"