Political Science: Law & Politics

Examination of the U.S. courts focusing on the legal and political factors that influence court action, and judicial action that affects public policy. Prerequisite: POLS 1300 or POLS 1013.

Prerequisite enforced by the system: POLS 1300 or POLS 1013. Minimum Sophomore standing. Catamount Core: S1. PACE students by permission and override.

This course is dedicated to the study of the role of the law and the judicial branch in the American political system. We will examine the origins, organizations, and procedures of the court system (both state and federal), the selection and roles of the various participants in the legal system (judges, lawyers, litigants, etc.), and the impact of the court system on policy in the United States. The judicial branch shares in the separation of powers and checks and balances frameworks designed in the U.S. Constitution, and as such an understanding of this branch’s role in our political system is essential for any student of American government. We will focus in detail on how the courts function in their own right and also on the influence of law and the judicial system on the political and social spheres in the U.S.

The Department of Political Science requires that this classroom protocol, defining minimum standards of conduct, be included in all syllabi of political science classes. 1. Students are expected to attend and be prepared for ALL regularly scheduled classes. 2. Students are expected to arrive on time and stay in class until the class period ends. If a student knows in advance that s/he will need to leave early, s/he should notify the instructor before the class period begins. 3. Students are expected to treat faculty and fellow students with respect. For example, students must not disrupt class by leaving and reentering during class, must not distract class by making noise, and must be attentive to comments being made by the instructors and by peers. The one required book for the class will be the 13th edition of Judicial Process in America (2025, SAGE/CQ Press), by Robert A. Carp, Kenneth L. Manning, Lisa M. Holmes, and Jennifer Bowie: https://collegepublishing.sagepub.com/products/judicial-process-in-america-13-287752

"Pop" quizzes on the reading are given throughout the semester. The grade for the class is also based on two all essay exams, a large (lightly scaffolded) research paper that incorporates attending court, and class participation.