Course: The U.S. Constitution: Its Foundations, Transformation, and Challenges, Topic: Topic 1: The Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System and the Creation of the U.S. Constitution

Topic 1: The Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System and the Creation of the U.S. Constitution
This topic features the Honorable Susan Leeson, Associate Justice, Oregon Supreme Court (retired), as she discusses the foundations of the U.S. Constitution with a particular focus on the evolution of the American presidency.
- Session 1: What is Executive Power? Grievances in the Declaration of Independence
  - Video 1: Overview Page
  - Quiz (S1, V1)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 2: Aristotle's Views of Government Page
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Video 3: Narrow vs. Broad Interpretations of Executive Power Page
  - Quiz (S1, V3)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Video 4: Declaration of Independence Page
  - Quiz (S1, V4)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 5: Nation-States after the Revolution Page
  - Quiz (S1, V5)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Video 6: A Look at the Virginia Constitution Page
  - Quiz (S1, V6)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
- Session 2: State Views of “Good Executive Power” and Three Plans for Union
  - Video 7: Continental Congress Overview Page
  - Quiz (S2, V7)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 8: Executive in the Virginia Plan Page
  - Quiz (S2, V8)
  - Discussion Question
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 9: Executive in the New Jersey Plan Page
  - Quiz (S2, V9)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 10: Executive in the Hamilton Plan Page
  - Quiz (S2, V10)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum
  - Video 11: How Virginia Plan Answers Grievances Page
  - Quiz (S2, V11)
  - Video 12: Analysis and Background of New Jersey Plan Page
  - Quiz (S2, V12)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 13: Analysis and Background of Hamilton Plan Page
  - Quiz (S2, V13)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
- Session 3: Convention Debates and Crafting Article II
- Session 4: Ratification Debates Parsing Article II: The Words
- Session 5: Parsing Article II: The “White Spaces”
  - Video 27: Presidential Powers Overview Page
  - Quiz (S5, V27)
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 28: Implied Powers Page
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 29: Inherent Powers Page
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Video 30: Informal Powers Page
  - Discussion Questions
  - Question 1 Forum
  - Question 2 Forum

Topic 1: The Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System and the Creation of the U.S. Constitution

Session 1: What is Executive Power? Grievances in the Declaration of Independence

Session 2: State Views of “Good Executive Power” and Three Plans for Union

Session 3: Convention Debates and Crafting Article II

Session 4: Ratification Debates Parsing Article II: The Words

Session 5: Parsing Article II: The “White Spaces”