Introduction to Law in the Political Arena (230-0-20)
Instructors
Traci R Burch
8474914848
601 University Pl # 202
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/traci-burch.html
Meeting Info
University Hall 122: Tues, Thurs 9:30AM - 10:50AM
Overview of class
This class examines the nature and functioning of the legal system. It is a large lecture course aimed at students with little familiarity with courts and the legal system. It satisfies distributional requirements for majors in many schools and serves as a gateway to further law-related courses in political science. Some of the topics it covers include: what is the law, and why people obey it; the relationship between law and social change; crime, the police, and the prison crisis in America; how people get a lawyer and how lawyers make a living; civil justice and the litigation explosion; courts, judges, politics and corruption; Supreme Court decision making; and legal strategies for making change.
Learning Objectives
Identify the basic process by which courts decide civil and criminal cases; Discuss important American politics concepts such as democratic accountability; the rule of law, and rational choice; discuss important concepts such as bias and discrimination and how they can arise from institutional factors as well as bureaucratic discretion
Teaching Method
Lecture and Discussion Sections
Evaluation Method
Participation 30%
Midterm 30%
Final 40%
Class Materials (Required)
Baum, Lawrence. American Courts, 7th edition. Wadsworth Cengage, 2012. ISBN: 978-0495916376
Class Attributes
Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area
Associated Classes
DIS - University Hall 112: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - University Hall 312: Thurs 11:00AM - 11:50AM
DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-343: Thurs 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - Locy Hall 109: Thurs 4:00PM - 4:50PM
DIS - Parkes Hall 212: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM
DIS - Locy Hall 303: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM