Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law – Individual Rights and Liberties
Chemerinsky on Constitutional Law: Individual Rights and Liberties will highlight the construction and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution through the centuries with an emphasis on protections of individual liberties and the evolution of equal protection. You'll learn the history behind the Constitution, cases that formed important precedent, and how changes in interpretation have been dependent on shifts in cultural and political climate as well as the composition of the Supreme Court.
In this course we will investigate the protection of individual rights and liberties and take a look at what rights are and are not protected and investigate several important shifts in jurisprudence. We'll begin by examining the structure of the Constitution's protection of individual rights. We'll then examine the circumstances under which, various rights and liberties can be regulated by the federal, state, and local government. We'll examine when the government can permissibly treat people unequally and when it can't. In our final two lectures, we'll take a close look at what is probably the most famous amendment to the Constitution, the First Amendment.
Join me as we look at the questions both raised and answered by the Constitution and those that interpret it!
By the end of this course, you should be able to:
- Describe the individual liberties protected by the Constitution and account for the history and structure of their protection
- Illustrate compromises found in the Constitution by citing examples and historic background
- Articulate the importance of key cases such as Brown v. Board, Lemon v. Kurtzman, and Lochner v. New York
- Explain how the outcome of cases is often dependent upon the current cultural and political climate as well as the composition of the court by citing particular cases and important shifts in the court's jurisprudence
- Assess the relative suitability of various approaches to constitutional interpretation and analysis
Status: Court Systems
Court Systems
Status: Case Studies
Case Studies
Beginner·Course·19 hours
Featured reviews
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 18, 2024
Very outstanding course, but not a beginner course but with some effort and studying you can make it through and learn a thing or two.
5.0
·Reviewed Oct 19, 2017
Thanks to the excellent presentation of the course material I have acquired an idea of my own regarding the subject of Constitution and its purpose. Constitution is a remedy for moral turpitude.
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 1, 2020
Erwin is an experienced professor who has a way with the law. He explains in a way that would be easy for a lay person to understand. I hope to learn with him again in the future.
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 9, 2025
Great! I really enjoyed this course! It gave me a much deeper understanding of individual liberties and how constitutional law has developed over time.
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 29, 2018
I was incredibly excited to be able to study the Constitution of the United States, and I am so humbled to be able to do so!
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 3, 2017
A necessary companion to Chemersky's Constitution I course!
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 9, 2020
Chermerinsky's classes were the best that I have taken. Very interactive and the fellow students really participated which made the class worth attending.
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 14, 2017
Fantastic course. Interesting subject and great lecturer. I learned a lot and would take any course from Dr. Chemerinsky.
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 22, 2020
This course is really awesome and give you deep insight into American Constitutional Law and I loved it.
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 19, 2021
This is by far the most fruitful course I found on Coursera! I am so lucky and you are doing such a favor for me that I can listen to The Real Prof. Chemerinsky class in my house. Thank you so much!
All reviews
Showing: 20 of 34
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J
James
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 2, 2020
Erwin is an experienced professor who has a way with the law. He explains in a way that would be easy for a lay person to understand. I hope to learn with him again in the future.
L
Lea
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 12, 2018
Very informative and told in a very easy way. The professor is excellent to show examples and explain points so the meaning of the Constitution becomes less difficult to understand
S
Susan
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 9, 2020
Chermerinsky's classes were the best that I have taken. Very interactive and the fellow students really participated which made the class worth attending.
A
Ann
1.0
·Reviewed Jun 28, 2022
There is no such thing as auditing these marvelous constitution classes. Once you finish the first quiz...if you don't upgrade you can't finish the course by auditing it.
S
Sheranne
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 27, 2017
Excellent. Continues lectures on American Constitutional law and covers freedom of speech (in its many forms) and freedom of religion. I paid for this courses as a donation to the school, professor, Coursera though I knew I would be unable to complete the exams to get certification. Though I did get a certificate for Course 1 in this duo of courses. I would like to see a donation box for each course, if you want to contribute but cannot take exams. I want to financially support Coursera et al.
V
Vi
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 5, 2017
The subject matter has not always been the easiest to learn, even for law students. Yet, being explained by Prof. Chemerinsky, everything became clear and comprehensible. I would recommend this course to all of those who want to know more about the rights and the principles which our nation rests its values upon, as well as to those who wants to learn about civil liberties and individual rights from all over the world.
A
Angela
5.0
·Reviewed Apr 2, 2017
I thought that this was a fabulous course. It went beyond the standard coursework I had on Constitutional Law in law school with some different cases than I had read before. It really helped to have someone who had real life experience before the Supreme Ct teaching the course rather than someone who had gone from practice experience to a university position pretty quickly. I highly suggest both parts of this course.
A
ACHYUTA
5.0
·Reviewed Aug 19, 2020
It was a very good learning experience and I enjoyed learning from a very eminent Professor like Professor Chemerinsky. Further, I learnt a lot from the Course.
I heartily thank Coursera for providing me the platform for learning and Prof. Chemrensky for his analytical explanation of Individual rights and liberties under the Constitution of America.
B
Bill
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 20, 2018
This is part 2 of Professor Chemerinsky’s course on Constitutional Law. Both were excellent and I would very much like to go foward with additional courses in law from UC Irvine. His experience in the practice of law and the Supreme Court cases he argued were tremendously helpful.
M
MAJID
5.0
·Reviewed Feb 1, 2019
I really thankful to our mentor Sir, Chemerinsky, who has left no stone upturned to deliver at his maximum, along with it, I am highly thankful to coursera to give me this sort of wonderful learning experience. It definitely enriched me with knowledge, skill and exposure.
J
Janet
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 13, 2021
Professor Chemerinsky is reputed to be an exceptional lecturer. I signed up for the course hoping that he could confirm that. In fact, his presentation of the course material exceeded my expectations. Thank-you Professor Chemerinsky. Janet Rauscher, esq.
H
Hilde
5.0
·Reviewed Jan 25, 2017
The course was interesting and well presented. The only drawback is that if you are not pursuing a verified certificate you cannot submit the quizzes or the peer assignments. Even so, I would still take another course offered by Prof. Chererinsky.
J
Jovita
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 11, 2017
Loved the informative lectures. Hated the gavel. Didn't have time to stay for the assignments but looking forward to reading 'The Conservative Assault on the Constitution' when I have a chance. Thanks for your efforts.
H
Hyomin
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 20, 2021
This is by far the most fruitful course I found on Coursera! I am so lucky and you are doing such a favor for me that I can listen to The Real Prof. Chemerinsky class in my house. Thank you so much!
N
Neringa
5.0
·Reviewed Oct 20, 2017
Thanks to the excellent presentation of the course material I have acquired an idea of my own regarding the subject of Constitution and its purpose. Constitution is a remedy for moral turpitude.
F
FIDAN
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 10, 2025
Great! I really enjoyed this course! It gave me a much deeper understanding of individual liberties and how constitutional law has developed over time.
O
O
5.0
·Reviewed Sep 19, 2024
Very outstanding course, but not a beginner course but with some effort and studying you can make it through and learn a thing or two.
M
Mayrine
5.0
·Reviewed Dec 30, 2018
I was incredibly excited to be able to study the Constitution of the United States, and I am so humbled to be able to do so!
V
Virginia
5.0
·Reviewed Jul 14, 2017
Fantastic course. Interesting subject and great lecturer. I learned a lot and would take any course from Dr. Chemerinsky.
P
PUNEET
5.0
·Reviewed Jun 23, 2020
This course is really awesome and give you deep insight into American Constitutional Law and I loved it.