CSCH.3045 Reimagining Philadelphia 1787: A Constitution for the 21st Century
The United States Constitution is the oldest and longest standing written constitution in force in the world and is often referred to as a "living document." What if we were suddenly presented with the opportunity to rewrite the entire Constitution for the modern world. What ideas in the document would you keep? What would you change or discard? This course will explore the continuing relevance of the Constitution and whether the nation's basic document needs revision. After careful and critical study of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, the course will survey other governing models; criminal justice systems; and international human right standards. Based on this study, we will identify provisions of the Constitution that need amendment or deletion, as well as provisions that need to be added to address dominant or emerging issues in contemporary society. Students will work in groups representing important interests to redraft the Constitution as necessary, with the goal of creating a consensus document for governing the United States efficiently and effectively, while ensuring fundamental rights and justice for all citizens.