Constitution
This course is intended to be a study of the United States Constitution, who wrote it, what caused it to be written, and the purpose for which it was written. The Presidency, Congress, and the judicial branch are examined as to how each impacts the lives of individuals today.
Class Hours: Thursday, 6:00 – 8:00 PM – Beginning August 14, 2025
Location: The Freedom Library, 2035 S. Arizona Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85365
Facilitator: Howard Blitz
E-mail: info@thefreedomlibrary.org
Phone: 928-246-2327
Course Goals
- Individuals will read, discuss, and understand the provisions of the United States Constitution.
- Individuals will survey the governmental and political institutions at the national level, which are based on that constitution and the political environment within which they function.
- Individuals will understand the election process.
- Individuals will be introduced to the basic political institutions and processes of American government.
Individual Responsibilities
Individuals are expected to:
- Bring paper, a pen, pencil, and eraser to each class session and attend every class session.
- Not to participate in acts of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, copying the work of other students, using unauthorized “crib notes”, plagiarism, stealing tests, or forging an instructor’s signature.
- Attend class missing no more than three
- Attend Constitution Forum November 18, 2025
Competencies
Upon satisfactory completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Become familiar with the major institutions of government in the United States including the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
- Understand the nature, extent, and quality of citizen participation in political life and the socio-political environment in which it functions.
- Be able to discuss the impact of various features of the American political institutions, including political parties and interest groups.
- Be able to discuss the critical domestic issues in American society and the ways in which government deals with them.
- Be able to understand the function of government.
Methods of Instruction
- Instructional objectives will be met through the use of lectures, reading, discussion, and videotapes/DVD’s.
Learning Objectives
- Write a paper – Four to six typewritten pages, double-spaced, using 12 font Arial or Times New Roman submitted in a WORD document. The paper is to discuss the topic given to the participant during the twelve-week class using the principles found in the United States Constitution. The paper must be e-mailed to info@thefreedomlibrary.org no later than Midnight, November 6, 2025. The paper may also be mailed or delivered to the address below and postmarked no later than November 6, 2025 in order to be considered for a possible scholarship.
The Freedom Library, Inc.
c/o The Sun
2055 S. Arizona Avenue
Yuma, AZ 85365
- Scholarship – To be eligible for a scholarship, a student must complete the class with no more than 3 absences. All individuals seeking a scholarship are expected to attend the Constitution Forum November 18, 2025.
There is no charge for participants to attend and participants are highly encouraged to invite their parents, other family members, and friends to attend.
The Freedom Library Scholarship Committee awards scholarships based on the quality of the paper. There is no guarantee a scholarship will be awarded.
Text: “Good To Be King – The Foundation of our Constitutional Freedom”
Author: Michael Badnarik
Session 1: Thu Aug 14
Orientation & Introduction
Session 2: Thu Aug 21
Video: “A More Perfect Union”
Session 3: Thu Aug 28
Chapters 1-3 / Pages 1-26
Session 4: Thu Sept 4
Chapters 4-6 / Pages 27-44
Session 5: Thu Sept 11
Chapters 7-9 / Pages 45-66
Session 6: Thu Sept 18
Chapters 10-11 / Pages 67-84
Session 7: Thu Sept 25
Chapters 12-14 / Pages 85-100
Session 8: Thu Oct 2
Chapters 15-16 / Pages 101-110
Session 9: Thu Oct 9
Chapters 17-19 / Pages 111-124
Session 10: Thu Oct 16
Chapters 20-22 / Pages 125-140
Session 11: Thu Oct 23
Chapters 23-24 / Pages 141-150
Session 12: Thu Oct 30
Chapters 25-26 / Pages 151-158
Session 13: Thu Nov 6
Paper Due
Session 14: Tues Nov 18
Constitution Forum
U.S. Constitution Class Enrollment Form
Beginning January 24, 2026 6 – 8 pm at The Freedom Library, 2035 S. Arizona Avenue, Yuma, AZ 85365