Inventing the American Nation - Writing and Understanding the Constitution and The Bill of Rights

Ratified in 1788 and effective since 1789, our Constitution has been the supreme law of the United States, defining the government's structure and protecting fundamental citizen rights.  It established a federal democratic republic with three separate branches - Legislative (Congress), - Executive (President), and Judicial (Court system) - using a checks and balances system to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.  We will also discuss why they chose to add a Bill of Rights and what it protects.

Presenter: Frank Sachs

Mon, Sept 28 Article I of the Constitution – How the legislature was designed to work and how it has evolved over time.

Mon, Oct 5 Article II of the Constitution – How the Executive was designed to work and how it has evolved over time.

Mon, Oct 12  Article III of the Constitution – How the Judiciary was designed to work and how it has evolved over time.

Mon, Oct 19 Bill of Rights - Part 1: The Bill’s Origin Story. The how and why did we need a Bill of Rights.

Mon, Nov 2 Bill of Rights - Part 2: What Civil Liberties does it protect and how it became part of our daily lives?