Caveat Academy course · Grades 9 to 12

Constitutional Law

How the Constitution works as law, taught through the Supreme Court cases that shaped it: judicial review, the separation of powers and federalism, speech, press and religion, the rights of the accused, and equal protection and due process. You learn each test, apply it to new facts and brief cases yourself, at your own pace, with a certificate at the end.

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$19one-time · every device you sign in on
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Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Or get it in the High school electives library, $119 for 66 items.

6 modules · 18 lessonsabout 13 hours$19

Six modules, eighteen lessons

Each module ends with a practice set that tracks mastery, an explain-it-back prompt, a short written response and a module exam. The final opens when every module is proficient; passing it earns a certificate with a verification code.

  1. Module 1: The Constitution and the courts

    Explain judicial review, the Supremacy Clause and how a case reaches and is decided by the Supreme Court.

    • The Constitution as supreme law
    • Judicial review and Marbury v. Madison
    • How the Supreme Court decides cases
    about 2.1 h

  2. Module 2: Separation of powers and federalism

    Analyze separation of powers and federalism questions with Jackson's Youngstown categories, the Commerce Clause cases and the limits on spending and commandeering.

    • Checks and balances among the branches
    • Federalism and the powers of Congress
    • Taxing, spending and the limits on federal power
    about 2.1 h

  3. Module 3: Freedom of speech and the press

    Apply the incitement, content-neutrality and student speech tests to new free speech and press situations.

    • From clear and present danger to incitement
    • Content, symbols and the categories of unprotected speech
    • Speech at school and freedom of the press
    about 2.1 h

  4. Module 4: Religion and the Bill of Rights

    Explain incorporation and compare the Establishment and Free Exercise Clause rules from Engel to Kennedy and from Sherbert to Fulton.

    • Incorporation: applying the Bill of Rights to the states
    • The Establishment Clause
    • Free exercise of religion
    about 2.1 h

  5. Module 5: The rights of the accused

    Apply the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendment rules to realistic search, questioning, trial and sentencing scenarios.

    • Searches and seizures
    • Self-incrimination, counsel and trial rights
    • Punishment and the Eighth Amendment
    about 2.1 h

  6. Module 6: Equal protection, due process and reading cases

    Choose and apply the right level of scrutiny, distinguish procedural from substantive due process, and brief a Supreme Court case.

    • Equal protection and levels of scrutiny
    • Due process: fair procedures and fundamental rights
    • Reading and briefing a Supreme Court case
    about 2.1 h

Try it before you start

This is how every lesson works: step through a worked example at your own pace, then answer a check and get the reason right away. Nothing here is saved; the course keeps your progress.

Module 5 · Self-incrimination, counsel and trial rights

Worked example: are warnings required?

  1. Scene 1: a man walks into a police station and, before anyone asks anything, says he stole a car. No interrogation, so no warnings were needed and the statement can be used.

A lesson check from each module

The checks need JavaScript turned on. The course itself works the same way.

What you get

Academics · High School$19 · included with the Academy pass and Whole-school licenses

What you finish with
A finished course in federal constitutional law: you can explain judicial review and how the Supreme Court picks and decides cases, sort presidential power questions into Justice Jackson's three categories, test a federal law against the Commerce Clause, spending and anti-commandeering limits, apply the incitement, content-neutrality and student speech tests, explain incorporation and the religion clauses, work through search, questioning, counsel and sentencing problems, choose the right level of scrutiny, tell procedural from substantive due process, and brief a case from its citation to its dissents. Passing the final earns a Caveat certificate of completion.
Who it is for
Students in grades 9 to 12 taking or preparing for government, civics, AP U.S. Government or a law elective, students in mock trial or debate, and homeschool families who want a complete course on how the Constitution is interpreted. It is civic education about federal law, not legal advice, and it explains each side of contested decisions without taking one.
Format
An online self-paced course: 6 modules and 18 lessons with worked examples you reveal step by step, 140 practice and exam items (multiple choice, numeric, fill-in and ordering), an explain-it-back prompt and a rubric-checked short response in every module, module exams with one retake, a 24-question final and a certificate with a verification code. About 13 hours in all; works on a phone or a computer.
Access
$19 one-time, yours on every device you sign in on; the course opens once you are signed in with it. Included with the Caveat Academy pass and Whole-school licenses. Also in the High school electives library ($119) and the Academics Suite pass ($149), and 1 more bundle. Progress is saved in this browser on this device, and the certificate page lets you download your record.
Where it lives
The High School space in Caveat Academics.
Support
Access, a receipt, a refund or a correction to the course: team@caveatacademic.com.

How it works

  1. Open the course and start Module 1. Each lesson takes about 25 to 35 minutes; two or three a week finishes the course in about a semester.
  2. Answer the checks as you read. Every answer shows the reason, and a miss links you back to the lesson that covers it.
  3. Finish each module with its practice set and exam. Proficient on every module opens the final; 70 percent passes it.
  4. Print or download your certificate and record from the certificate page.

Start the course

Sources and accuracy

The lessons are original writing by Caveat Academic Services. Facts were checked against these free, open references, which are also good places to read further.

  1. The Constitution of the United States, full text with annotations, Constitution Annotated, Library of Congress: constitution.congress.gov
  2. Supreme Court of the United States, opinions and a guide to how the Court works: supremecourt.gov
  3. United States Courts, educational resources and landmark case summaries: uscourts.gov
  4. National Archives, the Constitution and Bill of Rights with transcripts: archives.gov/founding-docs
  5. Oyez, a free multimedia archive of Supreme Court cases from the Legal Information Institute and Justia: oyez.org
  6. Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School, Supreme Court opinions and plain-language definitions: law.cornell.edu

Constitutional Law is a self-paced course from Caveat Academic Services. It is civic education about federal constitutional law, not legal advice; state constitutions and laws differ, and the Supreme Court can change its rulings, so check current law for any real situation. Case summaries are written in plain language and are not quotations unless marked. It does not replace a school course and awards no credit. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.