Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Summer Semester 2026

Constitutional Law (Online)

PADM 6640-70I

Course: PADM 6640-70I
Credits: 3
Term: Summer Semester 2026
Department: PSCJ
CRN: 20589

Course Description

This course is a scholarly review of important Constitutional cases decided by the United States Supreme Court from its inception through today. The intent is for students to learn important principles and rights that are protected by the Constitution. 

Required Texts

"An Introduction to Constitutional Law 100+ Supreme Court Cases Everyone Should Know" Second Edition by Professors Randy E. Barnett and Josh Blackman.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this course, students will understand the basic rights provided by the Constitution and how they must work to protect these rights in their profession as public administrators.

Course Requirements

Students must complete the assigned Assignments, participate in two Discussions, write a Paper, and complete the Final Exam. For purposes of grading, the weighting is as follows: Introduction 5%; Assignments 40%; Discussions 15%; Paper 20%; and the Final Exam 20%.

Course Outline

Date                               Details                                                                       Due

Wed May 13, 2026
         Introduction                                                                due by 11:59pm

Fri May 15, 2026            History of the Constitution
                                       and the Bill of Rights
                                                  due by 11:59pm

Fri May 22, 2026           Congressional/Federal Powers are not unlimited
                                    - Enumerated powers Chapters 11 - 16
                         due by 11:59pm

Fri Jun 5, 2026              Federalism - More Limits on Congressional Power
                                    - Chapters 17 - 20
                                                         due by 11:59pm

Fri Jun 12, 2026            Article II - Executive Power, Chapters 21 - 23              due by 11:59pm

Mon Jun 15, 2026         Discussion 1 - Respond to colleagues' efforts
                                      to distinguish Youngstown from Korematsu
                 due by 11:59pm

Fri Jun 19, 2026            Separation of Powers - Chapters 24 - 25                     due by 11:59pm

Fri Jun 26, 2026            Due Process of Law                                                    due by 11:59pm

Thu Jul 2, 2026             Dred Scott v. Sandford,
                                      and the 13th and 14th Amendments, Chapters 26 - 28
due by 11:59pm

Fri Jul 10, 2026             The Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment
                                    - Chapters 30, and 36 - 42
                                             due by 11:59pm

Fri Jul 17, 2026              Discussion 2 - Equal Protection Clause                       due by 11:59pm

Thu Jul 23, 2026            Originalism vs A Living Constitution - drafting a paper  due by 11:59pm

Fri Jul 31, 2026              The First Amendment - Freedom of Speech,
                                       Freedom of Religion, No Establishment of Religion,
                                       Chapters 51 -60.
                                                          due by 11:59pm

Fri Aug 7, 2026              Taking Private Property for Public Use,
                                       Chapters 64 - 65. Development of the
                                       Supreme Court's emergency docket
                             due by 11:59pm

Wed Aug 12, 2026          Final Exam                                                                   due by 11:59pm

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Work that is late and has not been previously approved for exception will be deducted by 20% for each day up to three days, at which time no points will be awarded. 

Attendance Policy

This is an online course. Students are required to complete their work by the due date.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.