Constitutional Law by Michael Farris

Master Teacher: Peter Kamakawiwoole
Duration: One-semester course offered in fall and spring (16 weeks).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 0.5 credits.
Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade level and up.
Tuition: $404 for HSLDA Members / $449 for non-members

Description: Constitutional Law is adapted for high schoolers from a college-level course taught at Patrick Henry College. The course is organized around several the major issues of Constitutional Law, including disputes over the meaning of the Commerce Clause, the Establishment Clause, and substantive due process. Students study the origins of the Constitution, and tackle difficult questions about what the Founding Fathers really intended. They read excerpts from Supreme Court cases, and are challenged to understand the facts and reasoning behind each ruling. Students measure all ideas and concepts against a biblical worldview.

Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class session.

Sign up for Constitutional Law and other courses

Live Online Class Session Schedule

Fall: August 19, 2024 - December 13, 2024
Spring:  January 6, 2025 - May 2, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Students Will Learn

  • How to understand the history behind the Constitution
  • How to understand the United States’ founding documents
  • How to discuss issues related to the Constitution and court decisions regarding those concepts
  • How to write summaries of Supreme Court decisions
  • How to evaluate future judicial decisions based on Supreme Court precedent

• How much homework is in Constitutional Law?

  We estimate that the course workload will take 5-7 hours per week. During a typical week, students complete the following coursework:

  • 60–90 minutes of live class instruction
  • 2-4 chapters of reading
  • 2-4 DVD episodes
  • Quiz
  • Weekly written case summaries

  Throughout the semester, students complete a midterm and final exam.

• What books will I use in Constitutional Law?

  The official booklist for Constitutional Law is now available. In the official booklist, you will find information about the editions, book descriptions, and ISBN numbers.

  You can order course materials for competitive prices through the Christianbook.com bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christianbook.com, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

• Prerequisites

  Students should have good reading skills and a basic understanding of the American political system.

• What is a Live Online Class Session in Constitutional Law?

  In Constitutional Law, students will participate in internet chat sessions every one to two weeks. 

  Scheduled real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

  When they register, students will be placed in one section of Constitutional Law and will have the option to attend either live class time at their own convenience. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule. HSLDA Online Academy reserves the right to cancel one live class session time. 

• What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Constitutional Law class times?

  All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

  Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts.