Constitutional Law for Christian Students

by Michael P. Farris, Esq.

Home School Legal Defense Association

Serious students at the junior and senior levels of high school will develop a much better understanding of the present state of Constitutional law from reading this book and/or going through the course on CD-ROM.

The book contains actual text of Supreme Court decisions that have helped to shape law into its present form, along with the original texts of the foundational documents of our government. Commentary by Mr. Farris prior to each document guides students in their reading to key points in each decision. Study questions that can be used either for written work or discussion help to enl

arge understanding.

The first unit discusses the “Historical Background of the Constitution.” Farris uses an interesting analogy, comparing the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution to a present-day corporation’s articles of incorporation and by-laws respectively. Other related documents such as The Articles of Confederation and The Bill of Rights are included in the discussion.

Unit II addresses “The Constitution as Higher Law,” covering the roles of state and federal constitutions and the establishment of the principle of judicial review. Unit III deals with executive and legislative branches and limits to their constitutional authority. Unit IV tackles the thorny problem of the judicial branch acting as lawmaker, and also the proper limitations on the scope of judicial activity. Unit V covers religion-related constitutional issues, which should be of special interest to Christian students. Unit VI addresses some of the most recent decisions regarding property rights, unionism, and government rights.

The Constitutional Law Supplement has revisions to some of the original chapters plus some additional material. You really need to purchase the Supplement.

While the commentary is very readable, some of the justices’ writing takes perseverance to unravel, so make sure your teen is able to work at this level. This book is also great for adults interested in such issues. The accompanying, inexpensive teacher’s handbook contains answers to study questions; I would recommend purchasing it.