21-In-Person-Trump II and the Constitution: Problematic, Constitutional Crisis, or Existential Threat?
Fall or Spring Course | Registration opens 8/4/2025 6:00 AM EDT
The second Trump presidency is proving to be a stress test for constitutional norms and practices, the likes this country has not seen before. This two-session course will explore the most significant constitutional questions raised by the manic activity in the administration’s opening months, providing historical backdrop, legal analysis, and likely outcomes in the slew of cases those actions have triggered. We will consider the capacity of the federal judiciary (and in particular the US Supreme Court) to weather the constitutional onslaught and serve as a good-faith check on the administration and reflect on how basic constitutional values might be revitalized.
Subject: politics
David Ryden joined the Hope College political science faculty in 1994 and is currently director of Hope's Washington DC honors semester. He has published numerous books and articles on such topics as the Supreme Court and the electoral process, the faith-based initiative, as well as other issues at the intersection of religion and politics. He has participated previously with CALL on three courses related to the Supreme Court.
David Ryden
David Ryden, leader, joined the Hope College political science faculty in 1994 and is currently chair of the department. He has published numerous books and articles on such topics as the Supreme Court and the electoral process, as well as other issues at the intersection of religion and politics. Ryden has a BA in political science from Concordia College, a law degree from the University of Minnesota, and a PhD in political science from the Catholic University of America. He has participated twice previously with CALL on topics related to the Supreme Court.