Turabian format- • You will write 3 research-based papers in current Turabian format that focus on:
1. The constitutional heritage of our governmental system
2. The faith of our Founding Fathers
3. The major constitutional principles of our legal system
Each paper must include at least 3 references in addition to the course textbooks and the Bible.
Course textbooks : Eidsmoe, Christianity and the constitution (1995)
Lutz, The origins of American Consitutionalism (1988)
McClellan, Liberty, Order, and Justice (2000).

Short Paper 1
The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to research and reflect on the historical tradition the Founding Fathers rooted themselves in when writing our founding documents.
James McClellan begins Liberty, Order, and Justice with the following words: “The American Constitution is an evolutionary rather than a revolutionary document.” For this paper, provide an explanation of that statement. Discuss the historical traditions in which the American founders grounded themselves.
Your paper must address the following 4 major questions:
1) What did the Greco-Roman tradition contribute to the American constitutional system?
2) What did the English common-law tradition contribute to the American constitutional system?
3) How did the American constitutional system itself specifically develop from a covenant, to a charter, to a constitutional system?
4) What are the specific, major political ideas of the Founding Fathers as a consequence of being rooted in this tradition?
Be sure to refer to the Magna Carta, the English Bill of Rights, the Mayflower Compact, and the Fundamental Order of Connecticut, among others, in your answer.

Short Paper 2
The purpose of this paper is to identify the ideas that shaped the Declaration of Independence. Specifically, you will research and describe the philosophy of government that shapes the Declaration of Independence. You will explore the influence of natural rights, contract theory, religious liberty, and limited government. At the end of this assignment, you should have a deeper understanding of the ideas that shaped the Declaration of Independence.
Your paper must address the following 3 questions:
1) What were the main ideas that shaped the Declaration of Independence?
2) Based on the Eidsmoe reading, how important were biblical principles?
3) Based on McClellan’s discussion of the Declaration of Independence, which political ideas are not found in the Declaration of Independence?

 
Short Paper 3
The Constitution lies at the heart of both America’s historical greatness and its uniqueness. The writing and ratification of the U.S. Constitution became a significant moment in Western civilization. In this assignment, you will have the opportunity to identify and explain the main principles in the Constitution.
Your paper must address the following 3 questions:
1) What are the main principles in the US Constitution? Explain and discuss each principle fully.
2) How do the principles relate to each other?
3) What are the goals of these principles?

Category: Essays