I had my Founders' Constitution class this morning. Our prof was saying that GMU is the first law school in the country to require a Founder's course for all law students.
Below is a reading list of some of what we're covering this semester. (With links to PDF files.) It looks like we'll be covering some very good stuff:
The English Constitution
- Magna Carta
- David Hume, History of England, Vol. 1, pp. 420-54 (on Magna Carta)
- Petition of Right
- English Bill of Rights
The American Revolution and the New State Governments
- Burke, “Speech on Conciliation with the Colonies”
- Paine, “Common Sense” (Section on the Origin and Design of Government in General and the section presenting Thoughts of the Present State of American Affairs)
- Jefferson, “Summary View of the Rights of British America”
- Virginia Declaration of Rights
- Thomas Jefferson’s Draft of the Declaration of Independence (begins on p. 199)
- Pennsylvania Constitution (1776)
- Virginia Constitution (1776)
- Massachusetts Constitution (1780)
The Articles of Confederation and the Constitutional Convention
The Federal Executive
The Bill of Rights
The Founders Interpret the Constitution
- Debate in the First Congress over the Removal Power (16, 17, June 1789)
- Madison, Veto Message regarding Bill to Incorporate Episcopal Church (21 February, 1811)
- Controversy over the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798:
Virginia Resolution
Virginia Debate
Counterresolutions of NY, Del, RI, Mass
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