(same as POL_SC 2455). This is an undergraduate seminar on the political thought surrounding the drafting and ratification of the United States Constitution. It is not a course in “high theory.” We will make reference to theorists including Locke, Montesquieu, and Rousseau, and describe the underlying beliefs and values of the Founders in terms of various theses (Small Republic, Balance of Orders, Natural Rights among others). However, our primary task is to understand the specific objectives that shaped the design of the Constitution and United States government.