Framing public policy: General questions and specific personal choices.
- Should U.S. citizens be allowed to travel to Cuba?
- Should I write my Congressman to protest draft laws?
Jurisprudential Inquiry is conducted as a teaching method inside a general, assumed set of values. These American values include:
- Rule of law
- Equal protection under the law – law must be administered fairly
- Due process – government can’t deprive citizens of life, liberty and property without due process (notice, trial, etc).
- Justice – equal opportunity
- Preservation of peace/order
- Separation of powers
- Personal liberty
These social values transcend any one controversy, and thus offer navigation and “bearings” for students working through these issues.
Common problems tackled by students studying Jurisprudential Inquiry include:
- Race/ethnic conflicts
- Religious conflicts
- Crime/security
- Economic conflict
- Health, education and welfare
- National security
These controversies are resolved through analysis of facts and application of values.
At the heart of this model is compromise: When values conflict, students seek solutions whereby each value is compromised only minimally.
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