SOCIAL JUSTICE
THE PHILADELPHIA CENTER
ELECTIVE
CAROL SCHULTZ VENTO, Esq., Ph.D.
Twenty-first century America is a nation politically, legally and culturally divided. This course offers an opportunity to explore, from the perspective of law and politics, a number of controversial topics, which may be defined within the broad category of “justice”. Using the Constitution and the Bill of Rights as a framework, an array of issues will be covered including rights of criminal defendants, inequality, capital punishment, abortion, right to die, religion and schools, gun control and the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and the war on terror.
Local professionals will occasionally be guest speakers and there will be field trips to sites relevant to concepts presented in class.
Students will learn how to analyze and brief legal opinions. Active participation in class discussion is encouraged. Students are expected to regularly read a major city newspaper, e.g., New York Times, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune “all available on the web”.
Final grades will be based on class participation, weekly short written assignments (1 to 2 pages), student debate, and final paper (7 to 10 pages) on a controversial legal or political issue.
Required Reading:
Taking Sides - Clashing Views on Legal Issues, 12th Edition
In Our Defense: The Bill of Rights in Action – Caroline Kennedy and Ellen Alderman
Course pack
Course objectives
Syllabus
Debate Topics
Power sharing – President, Congress and Supreme Court
Domestic policy
War making power
Assignment: Read Articles I, II and III of Constitution
Taking Sides – Issue 1
Course pack
Short Paper
Students’ rights
Obscenity
Media Rights
School Prayer
Assignment: Read 1st Amendment
Taking Sides – Issues 8, 10, 14
Course pack
Kennedy and Alderman
Short Paper
National Constitution Center Panel Discussion - 6:30 PM
(We will meet at the Constitution Center, 5th and Arch, Philadelphia at 6PM)
Policing in the City
Gun Violence and Gun Control
Search and Seizure
Drugs and Crime
Assignment: Taking Sides – Issues 7,9,13
Course pack
Short Paper
Guest Speaker – Marty Devlin, Detective, Camden County
Arrest
Pre-trial
Trial and Sentencing
Assignment: Kennedy and Alderman
Read 5th and 6th Amendments
Course pack
Attend criminal hearing at Criminal Justice Center
Short paper
Capital Punishment
Rights of Juveniles, Mentally Ill
Wrongful Conviction
Viewing of “The Exonerated”
Assignment:
Course pack
Read 8th Amendment
Kennedy and Alderman
Taking Sides – Issues 6,11, 12
Short Paper
Week 8 – The Constitution and Discrimination – Racial, Gender and Sexual Orientation
Sexual harassment
Civil Rights and Race
Gay Marriage
Course pack
Read 13th and 14th Amendments
Taking Sides – Issues 15, 16,17,19
Week 9 – Right to Privacy
Abortion and Reproductive Freedom
Right to Die
Assignment:
Course pack
Taking Sides – Issues 2,4
Short Paper
Week 11 – Student Debates
Week 12 – Student Paper Presentation and Final Paper Due
Week 13 – Wrap-up