Constitutional Law Video Reviews

CONSTITUTIONAL LAW Video Review Sessions #1, #2, and #3:

In the first video, Dr. Vile and Attorney Virginia Vile break down the Preamble and Articles I – III of the Constitution. We discuss the system of federalism the Founders created and the checks and balances they put into place for our government. For Article I of the Constitution, Dr. Vile explains the legislative branch and its powers, including the enumerated powers of the purse through taxing and spending, the power to regulate commerce, the power over to adopt and present bills, the power over naturalization of citizens, the power to declare war, and the Elastic Clause powers to legislate anything that is “necessary and proper.” We also sift through the Dormant Commerce Clause and limitations on Congress in the form of habeas corpus rules, bills of attainder, and ex post facto laws.

For Article II of the Constitution, Dr. Vile describes the role of the executive branch of government, led by the President of the United States as our Commander-in-Chief. As our commander, the President controls the military, has the power to make treaties, the power to nominate federal judges and Cabinet members, and the power to grant reprieves and pardons. Finally, we discuss the Article III provisions of the Constitution that create the rules and powers for the judicial branch of our government. We highlight the structure of federal courts and their jurisdiction, as well as what types of cases the courts can consider. In particular, we describe the political question doctrine, the need for cases and controversies, and the meaning of standing, ripeness, and mootness.

In the second video, we break down Articles IV-VII of the Constitution. We discuss the Full Faith and Credit Clause of Article IV, along with the Privileges and Immunities Clause, and the guarantee of a republican form of government. For Article V, Dr. Vile addresses one of his favorite topics – the amending process, whereby new amendments may be accepted by the States and/or Congress and how they are adopted. With Article VI, our team discusses the United States’ debts and contracts, and the Supremacy Clause, through which the Constitution and federal laws are the “supreme law of the land.” Finally, for Article VII, Dr. Vile tells us how the Constitution itself was originally adopted.

Then our dynamic duo takes on the Amendments! We skip the First and Second Amendments in this video and tackle the 3rd through the 27th (final) Amendments. (Join us for Video Review #3 for a review of the First and Second Amendments.) We touch briefly on the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, leaving most of that discussion for our Criminal Procedure courses. However, we go into more detail for the Reconstruction Amendments (13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments), and how they apply due process to the States in addition to the country. Finally, we discuss the remaining Amendments, including the women’s right to vote, prohibition and its repeal, the succession of the President, voting age and Congressional compensation.

In the third video, Dr. Vile and Attorney Virginia Tehrani break down the First Amendment’s protections for free speech, the prohibition of an establishment of religion, the free exercise of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. These concepts include a thorough discussion of Substantive Due Process, Procedural Due Process, and Equal Protection. We describe suspect classifications, discrimination, strict scrutiny reviews, and the rational-basis test. Dr. Vile even uses a substantial amount of case law for the review of the First Amendment. We also discuss the Second Amendment’s protection of citizens for the right to bear arms and how that law and idea have been shaped even through the recent years.