WGD02102 – Guided Discussion Exploring the American Constitution

For over 200 years, the Constitution has served as the bedrock of American democracy and has been a symbol of our experiment in popular governance. Yet despite its important role in guiding our law and politics, it’s surprising that many myths and misconceptions persist about our founding document. The session will begin with a brief discussion about the background to the drafting of the Constitution in 1787, the general structure of the document as finally adopted, and a summary of the Bill of Rights (Amendments 1–10). Attendees will then examine and discuss a range of contemporary issues and problems relating to American politics that have raised constitutional issues. The format of the class is designed to encourage discussion among participants and with the instructor of these and related issues about the Constitution. Participants will be provided with a copy of the Constitution to guide the discussion and that they can keep for future reference. Enrollment is limited.