South Fort Myers High School – Constitutional Law Honors

Mar 2026 · 2nd Semester

The grade 9-12 Constitutional Law course consists of the following content area strands: American History, World History, Geography, Humanities, Economics, and Civics and Government. The primary content for the course pertains to the study of major legal precedents and evolving judicial interpretations associated with the United States Constitution. Content should include, but is not limited to, the evaluation of historical and contemporary constitutional dilemmas through an analysis of legal documents, processes and cases; an examination of the evolution of constitutional government from ancient times to the present; a historical review of the British legal system and its role as a framework for the U.S. Constitution; the arguments in support of our republican form of government, as they are embodied in the Federalist Papers; an examination of the constitution of the state of Florida, its current amendment process, and recent amendments approved by Florida voters; a comparison between the constitutional frameworks of other nations with that of the United States; a review and application of major Supreme Court decisions and the impact of both majority and minority opinions; the understanding of constitutional concepts and provisions establishing the power of the courts including separation of powers, checks and balances, the rule of law, an independent judiciary, and judicial review; and appellate processes and procedures to address constitutional questions. This course will incorporate the development of a written appellate brief addressing a contemporary constitutional question and the presentation of oral arguments to defend their position legally. This course is designed to provide an in-depth study of this topic to students who are interested in pursuing post-secondary careers in law, law enforcement, governmental service, or a law related field. The purpose of this Pre-IB course is to prepare students for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (DP). As such, this course will provide academic rigor and relevance through a comprehensive curriculum based on the State Standards taught with reference to the unique facets of the IB. These facets include interrelatedness of subject areas, a holistic view of knowledge, intercultural awareness, embracing international issues, and communication as fundamental to learning. Instructional design must provide students with values and opportunities that enable them to develop respect for others and an appreciation of similarities and differences. Learning how to learn and how to critically evaluate information is as important as the content of the disciplines themselves.