On September 17, 1787, the Constitution of the United States was signed in the Assembly Room of the Pennsylvania state legislature—the same site that witnessed the signing of the American Declaration of Independence. This year is the 238^th anniversary of that historic occasion.

Rockford University will celebrate Constitution Day with a shared classroom visit from Marquette University Law School Professor Ryan Scoville who will be meeting electronically with Dr. Ron Lee’s Current Issues in American Foreign Policy class (POLS 387). Please sit in with us to listen to an informative aspect of the US Constitution that is often less-explored, but increasingly critical in the 21^st century.

Most Americans are aware of the central role that the president and the executive branch play in foreign policymaking.  But has this always been the case? Find out what the Constitution tell us about the distribution of foreign policy powers and the foreign policy responsibilities of the other branches, especially Congress. Explore how we get to the point where presidents and the executive branch seem to have almost exclusive authority over foreign policy. Learn the part the courts can and should play in interpreting the law and resolving disputes as they relate to foreign policy. Understand how the fact that the US. has a federal system of government that divides power between the national government and state governments effects American foreign policy. With respect to current foreign policy matters, know the constitutional debates surrounding the Trump administration’s immigration and international trade policies and its use of military force. Come and learn more about our most basic governing document while celebrating its creation.  

More information, including location and registration, coming soon