This document provides an overview of the entire POL 303 The American Constitution course from Ashford University. It includes descriptions of weekly discussion questions and assignments that focus on various topics related to the US Constitution, such as the four pillars of government, judicial review, legislative and executive powers, federalism, civil rights, religious freedom, and privacy rights. The document concludes with details about the final research paper assignment, which requires students to analyze a current constitutional issue and discuss its implications for federalism, civil rights, and civil liberties.

1. POL 303 The American Constitution Entire Course
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POL 303 Week 1 DQ 1 The Four Pillars of U.S. Government
The Four Pillars of U.S. Government. The federal government of the United States was
constructed using the directions provided in the U.S. Constitution. Our Founding Fathers had the
wisdom and foresight to create a very flexible and intelligently structured government
framework that has endured. The entire American political system is based on four
constitutionally derived pillars: a national government; separation of powers; federalism; and
individual rights. Briefly describe each pillar, how it interacts with the other three pillars, and
then provide real-world examples of how each pillar supports our government. How does the
U.S. Constitution establish checks and balances and federalism using these pillars? Please
explain the reasoning behind your response.
POL 303 Week 1 DQ 2 Judicial Independence Within a Political Process
Judicial Independence Within a Political Process. Our judicial branch of government was
designed not only to serve as a check on the power of the executive and legislative branches but
also to be the final arbiter on disputes among states and between the states and the federal
government. One important arbitration tool utilized by the judicial branch is judicial review.
Judicial review is one of the U.S. Constitution’s most provocative features as it plays an
important role in shaping the laws that impact our society. For this discussion, complete the
following:
Define judicial review.
Explain why the origins and legitimacy of judicial review are often called into question.
Discuss whether the framers of the Constitution intended for the judiciary to have this role in the
policy making process.

2. Share your opinion on judicial review. Explain why you support or do not support judicial
review.
POL 303 Week 2 DQ 1 Legislative and Executive Powers
Legislative and Executive Powers. Congress passes legislation and the president is tasked with
implementing that legislation unless the legislation is vetoed. The powers of both the legislative
and executive branches were on full display with the passage and implementation of the Patriot
Act. The U.S. Patriot Act was signed into law on October 26, 2001 – after the events of
September 11th that same year. This act was passed because the legislative and executive
branches felt there was a need for more cooperation between key government intelligence
agencies and broader powers for law enforcement and the overall goal was a safer more secure
United States. However, as the events of September 11th become a more distant memory, many
have begun to question whether the Patriot Act is too broad in its scope and if the Act infringes
on individual civil rights and liberties. In your opinion, does the Patriot Act infringe on civil
rights and liberties? Explain your reasoning, discuss why you do or do not support the Patriot
Act, and provide at real-world examples/evidence that support your answer.
POL 303 Week 2 DQ 2 Federalism and the Exercise of National Power
Federalism and the Exercise of National Power. Our federal government has many duties,
obligations, and powers under the Constitution. Some scholars argue that the reach of the federal
government should be limited and constrained. Other scholars argue that the federal government
should not be constrained or limited where the welfare of the U.S. people is concerned. For
example, in the case, Gonzales v. Raich, the boundaries of the federal government’s definition of
interstate commerce are in question. In this case, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agents took
marijuana plants from a woman’s home in California under the Federal Controlled Substances
Act. However, under California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996, the plants were allowed for
medical use. For this discussion, address the following questions:
a. Does the federal government have the right to ban marijuana under the Commerce Clause of
the U.S. Constitution?
b. Is this an overreach of the federal system, or is this effort in line with the duties and
obligations of our central government described in the Constitution?

3. POL 303 Week 2 Federalism and Constitutional Debates
Federalism and Constitutional Debates. This assignment will require you to use your critical
thinking skills in evaluating how the concept of federalism interacts with various current
constitutional debates. In the prompt for the Final Research Paper (located in Week Five of your
online course or the Components of Course Evaluation section of this guide), you have been
provided a list of current constitutional debate topics. Select one of these topics for this
assignment and create a hypothetical personal opinion article (op-ed) for your local newspaper.
In this op-ed, you must take a position supporting or opposing the issue you select. Even
though you will be choosing a side, you must discuss both sides of the argument and then
provide a logical argument why your position is valid, credible, and should be supported.
Your paper should be organized into the following sections:
§ Introduction
§ Discussion/claims supporting your position
§ Discussion/claims against your position (counter-arguments)
§ Summary argument supporting your position
POL 303 Week 3 DQ 1 Establishment and Exercise of Religion
Establishment and Exercise of Religion. The lack of a national religion supported and established
by the federal government has been hailed as one of the most important principles that ensure
religious freedom in the United States. In addition, the ability to practice any religious or non-
religious beliefs is equally applauded as a core tenant of religious freedom. Still, the debate over
religious freedom continues throughout our nation. Currently, numerous organized religions co-
exist with organizations for non-believers. In your opinion, what are the essential elements of
religious freedom? Is separation of church and state necessary? Does the U.S. Constitution
equally and effectively protect the rights of all religious believers and non-believers? Explain
your reasoning, discuss why you are taking the positions you are taking in your response
POL 303 Week 3 DQ 2 Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly- Today and Tomorrow
Freedom of Speech, Press, and Assembly: Today and Tomorrow. Certain freedoms identified
and protected by the Constitution have been the subject of intense political, social, and cultural
controversy. The right of all Americans to believe, say, and write what they want, to protest in

4. our streets, and to challenge the pervading political, social, cultural thoughts of the day are the
most fundamental of American freedoms. Yet, these freedoms have been, are, and will continue
to be modified and will evolve as our nation evolves. For instance, in the last 10 years, numerous
types of social media have been developed that have changed the way society operates. New
versions of social media, from Facebook to SnapChat, are available at the click of a button – and
even on our cellphones. When the Founding Fathers wrote the U.S. Constitution, they had no
idea how technology would advance or how this would impact citizens’ rights. Is virtual freedom
of speech the same as freedom of speech in other media outlets (i.e., freedom of the press)? What
are some of the civil liberty balancing concerns between freedom of speech/civil liberty
supporters and security/law enforcement officials? Be sure to consider the Reno v. ACLU case,
found in your course text, in your response.
POL 303 Week 3 Final ResearchPaper Detailed Outline
The end of the course is rapidly approaching, and now is a great time to begin working on your
Final Research Paper. This assignment will give you an opportunity to create a detailed outline
of your paper that can be reviewed by your instructor. The feedback that your instructor can
provide will certainly help you create a better final product. Remember, the main point of your
outline is to help you organize your thoughts and research. The outline should be the backbone
of your paper and should serve as the building blocks for your Final Research Paper.
Make sure to read over the instructions for the Final Research Paper, which are located in Week
Five of your online course or in the Course Components section of this course guide. As
explained in those instructions, your paper should have six major sections. For this assignment,
you will need to create an outline in a Word document. Your outline should:
 Introduce the maintopic,provide brief backgroundregardingthe topic,andintroduce the main
thesis.
 Identifyimplicationsforfederalismrelatedtothe topic.
 Identifyimplicationsforcivil rightsrelatedtothe topic.
 Identifyimplicationsforcivil libertiesrelated tothe topic.
 Conclude andsummarize the mainfindings.
 Include acomplete listof referencesutilizedwithinthe outline.
The paper must be two to three pages in length and formatted according to APA style. You must
use at least three scholarly sources, not counting your textbook, from the Ashford University
Library to support your claims. Information regarding APA, including samples and tutorials,
visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left
navigation toolbar.
A sample outline for this assignment would look like the following:
*For each Point below, please be sure to include a direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary,
along with the in-text citation that supports the main point of the section.

5. 1. Introduction
2. What topicdidyou select?(Thisshouldbe the topicyouusedinyourWeekTwo
Assignment.)
3. Brief backgroundregardingthe topic.
4. What will be yourmainpointsandoverall argument/thesis?(Hint:Youshouldhave
three.)
5. Federal implicationsrelatedtothe topic.
6. Point1*
7. Point2*
8. Point3*
III. Civil rights implications related to the topic.
1. Point1*
2. Point2*
3. Point3*
4. Civil libertiesimplicationsrelatedtothe topic.
5. Point1*
6. Point2*
7. Point3*
8. Conclusion
9. Summarize mainfindings.
10. Restate thesis.
11. Strongconcludingsentence.
12. References:
13. Create a reference listforyoursourcesaccordingtoAPA style asoutlinedinthe Ashford
WritingCenter.Youwill needtoutilizeatleastthree scholarlysources,notcountingyour
textbook,inthisoutlineandatleastsix inyour Final ResearchPaper.
POL 303 Week 4 DQ 1 Stop and Frisk
Stop and Frisk. As you learned in this week’s readings, many constitutional scholars consider the
prohibition of unreasonable searches and seizures as one of the most basic freedoms that the Bill
of Rights clearly protects. This central freedom supports and protects other essential freedoms,
like free speech, press, assembly, and religion. Recently, this core freedom has become a very
controversial debate topic as large American cities, like New York City, have instituted police
procedures described as “stop and frisk.” In these cities, when a police officer has reason to
believe that a person is armed there is a set protocol for officers. Officers can make stops based
on suspicious activities and frisk individuals for weapons. Courts have found this to be within the
boundaries of the Fourth Amendment until just recently. At what point does a reasonable search
become unreasonable? What is the role of probable cause in these efforts to provide safety to our

6. citizens? When, during this process, could the police officer infringe on individual rights?
Discuss why you support or do not support stop and frisk efforts by the police.
POL 303 Week 4 DQ 2 Capital Punishment and You
Capital Punishment and You. Every American accused of a crime that could result in loss of life,
liberty, and properly has the right to fair treatment or due process. One of the most divisive
aspects of due process is capital punishment and the prevention of cruel and unusual punishment
to those convicted fairly of crimes. Specifically, the Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and
unusual punishment, and the ongoing debate revolves around if the death penalty is or is not
considered cruel and unusual punishment. In your opinion, does the death penalty violate the
U.S. Constitution? Why, or why not? Does the age of those sentenced to death influence your
opinion of the death penalty, and if so, how? Please explain your answer
POL 303 Week 5 DQ 1 What Right to Privacy
What Right to Privacy?. The fact that the Constitution does not have a specific clause or
reference to a right to privacy has become a very contentious cultural, social, and political issue
in the United States. The ability of the government to enter into the private lives of American
citizens has clearly been restricted by provisions in the Fourth Amendment, yet the debate over
certain privacy based rights such as contraception, abortion rights, and consensual sexual activity
continues today. In particular, when discussing abortion, many immediately begin to debate a
woman’s right to choose. At the heart of the issue constitutionally is not whether a woman has
the right to make this discussion but whether she has the right to privacy under the Fourth
Amendment. Utilizing the U.S. Constitution and valid case law, explain the role that the right to
privacy has in establishing the legality of abortion.
POL 303 Week 5 DQ 2 Discrimination and the Future of Marriage
Discrimination and the Future of Marriage. Three core values are often discussed when it comes
to what all Americans hold dear: democracy, liberty, and equality. Equality, in particular, is a
value and a right that Americans have fought other nations and each other to preserve and
expand. Until the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution was passed, equal protection of the
law was not part of our Constitution. This critical amendment was the legal vehicle that enabled

7. our nation to prohibit discrimination based on race and sex and to also support and affirm the
need for diversity. Nevertheless, the struggle for equal protection and due process continues, and
other amendments to the Constitution, which include the Fifth, Ninth, and Fourteenth
Amendments, have become involved in this effort. One of the most debated legal decisions
involving equal protection thus far has been the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) of 1996. In a
2013 Supreme Court decision, Section 3 of the Act was found to be unconstitutional. Did the
Supreme Court justices rightfully interpret the equal protection clause from the Fifth and/or
Fourteenth Amendments in this case? Identify and utilize constitutional precedents and case law
to support your argument
POL 303 Week 5 Final Paper
Focus of the Final ResearchPaper
In the Final Research Paper, you will use your critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate a
current events topic that has constitutional and political implications. Select from the list below
or utilize a topic approved by the instructor. The thesis of the paper will be a statement
identifying how the concepts of federalism, civil liberties, and civil rights are implicated in and
affected by this topic.
Select one topic from the following list of constitutional issues:
 Regulationof commerce
 Religiousfreedom
 Free speech
 Privacy rights
 Equal protectionunder law
Utilize the feedback from your Week Three Assignment to create a more thorough outline to
form your Final Research Paper. The paper should include five main sections:
 Introductoryparagraphthat providesabrief backgroundregardingthe topicandintroducesthe
mainthesis.
 In-depthdiscussionof the implicationsforfederalismrelatedtothe topic.
 In-depthdiscussionof the implicationsforcivil rightsrelatedtothe topic.
 In-depthdiscussionof the implicationsforcivil libertiesrelatedtothe topic.
 Concludingparagraph thatsummarizesthe mainfindingsandrestatesthe thesis.

8. The paper must be 10 to 12 pages in length and formatted according to APA style. You must use
at least six scholarly resources (at least five of which can be found in the Ashford University
Library) other than the textbook to support your claims. Cite your sources within the text of your
paper and on the reference page. For information regarding APA, including samples and
tutorials, visit the Ashford Writing Center, located within the Learning Resources tab on the left
navigation toolbar.
Writing the Final Research Paper
The Final ResearchPaper:
1. Must be 10 to 12 double-spacedpagesinlength(excludingtitleandreference pages),and
formattedaccordingto APA style asoutlinedinthe AshfordWritingCenter.
2. Must include atitle page withthe following:
3. Title of paper
4. Student’sname
5. Course name and number
6. Instructor’sname
7. Date submitted
8. Must beginwithanintroductoryparagraphthat has a succinct thesisstatement.
9. Must addressthe topicof the paperwithcritical thought.
10. Must endwitha conclusionthatreaffirmsyourthesis.
11. Must use at leastsix scholarlyresources,includingaminimumof five fromthe Ashford
UniversityLibrary.
12. Must documentall sourcesinAPA style,asoutlinedinthe AshfordWritingCenter.
13. Must include aseparate reference page,formattedaccordingtoAPA style asoutlinedinthe
AshfordWritingCenter.
Carefully review the Grading Rubric for the criteria that will be used to evaluate your
assignment.