LAW 513 - Law and Politics

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This course will explore the intersection of law and politics. Led by leading political scientists as well as former government officials, students will examine critical legal questions through the lens of politics and political science. The course will provide a richer understanding of doctrine (is the search for original meaning a value-laden enterprise; do lawmakers have sufficient incentive to take Supreme Court statutory interpretation methodology into account when enacting a law; does the Supreme Court appreciate the multi-fold ways that presidents can limit independent agency autonomy). The course will also raise questions about judicial legitimacy and independence (does party polarization create psychological roadblocks that stand in the way of neutral judicial decision-making; does the appointments and confirmation process push presidents and Senators to select extremist judges; can collegiality and judicial independence norms serve as a counterweight to elected government efforts to transform the courts into political entities). The course will be graded pass/fail. Students will be graded based on class participation as well as three reaction papers.