OVERVIEW
The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to apply all that you have learned in this
course to a significant current issue. As a result, you should be able to draw some conclusions
about the current state of our constitutional and religious history in the U.S. in the 21st century.
You will get to look at a specific issue in contemporary culture from the vantage point of our
constitutional history. You will also have the opportunity to assess where the United States is
today in terms of our legal and religious history.
One of the most controversial areas of Supreme Court recent adjudication lies in its decisions
related to religion and politics. You will get to explore two important recent cases regarding
religion and politics in the specific area of marriage and marriage ceremonies. These two recent
significant cases are Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) and Masterpiece Cake Shop v. Colorado Civil
Rights Commission (2018). Both cases involve highly contentious issues that get at fundamental
debates in contemporary America.
Analyze the Obergefell and Masterpiece cases in light of what you have learned regarding
America’s religious and constitutional heritage in this course.
You will have 2 major sections to your paper:
Part I – Facts of the Cases
For each case, include the following areas:
The Facts of the Case
The Legal Question
The Court’s Decision
The Court’s Rationale that supports its decision
The Rationale of the dissenting Opinions
Part II – Your Informed Analysis of the Cases Based upon Course Material
Analyze what these decisions say about where the United States is today in terms of its
Constitutional and religious liberties history.
Your discussion must include, but is not limited to, the following lenses of analysis:
These decisions in light of America’s constitutional history
These decisions in light of the Christian foundations of America
These decisions in light of specific Constitutional principles
These decisions in light of specific methods of Constitutional adjudication
The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to apply all that you have learned in this
course to a significant current issue. As a result, you should be able to draw some conclusions
about the current state of our constitutional and religious history in the U.S. in the 21st century.
You will get to look at a specific issue in contemporary culture from the vantage point of our
constitutional history. You will also have the opportunity to assess where the United States is
today in terms of our legal and religious history.
One of the most controversial areas of Supreme Court recent adjudication lies in its decisions
related to religion and politics. You will get to explore two important recent cases regarding
religion and politics in the specific area of marriage and marriage ceremonies. These two recent
significant cases are Obergefell v. Hodges (2015) and Masterpiece Cake Shop v. Colorado Civil
Rights Commission (2018). Both cases involve highly contentious issues that get at fundamental
debates in contemporary America.
Analyze the Obergefell and Masterpiece cases in light of what you have learned regarding
America’s religious and constitutional heritage in this course.
You will have 2 major sections to your paper:
Part I – Facts of the Cases
For each case, include the following areas:
The Facts of the Case
The Legal Question
The Court’s Decision
The Court’s Rationale that supports its decision
The Rationale of the dissenting Opinions
Part II – Your Informed Analysis of the Cases Based upon Course Material
Analyze what these decisions say about where the United States is today in terms of its
Constitutional and religious liberties history.
Your discussion must include, but is not limited to, the following lenses of analysis:
These decisions in light of America’s constitutional history
These decisions in light of the Christian foundations of America
These decisions in light of specific Constitutional principles
These decisions in light of specific methods of Constitutional adjudication
GOVT 421
Page 2 of 2
INSTRUCTIONS
The specific assignment instructions are the following:
Length of assignment: 5-7 pages excluding title page, abstract, and reference section.
Format of assignment: latest edition of APA.
Number of citations: a minimum of five sources (in addition to course texts)
Acceptable sources: scholarly articles published within the last five years, published
books, course textbooks, and the Bible,
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
Page 2 of 2
INSTRUCTIONS
The specific assignment instructions are the following:
Length of assignment: 5-7 pages excluding title page, abstract, and reference section.
Format of assignment: latest edition of APA.
Number of citations: a minimum of five sources (in addition to course texts)
Acceptable sources: scholarly articles published within the last five years, published
books, course textbooks, and the Bible,
Note: Your assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.