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Introduction to Law in the Political Arena (230-0-20)

Instructors

Traci Burch
8474914848
601 University Pl # 202
Office Hours: http://www.polisci.northwestern.edu/people/core-faculty/traci-burch.html

Meeting Info

University Hall 102: Tues, Thurs 12:30PM - 1:50PM

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

Students will know the actors and processes of US state and federal civil and criminal court systems. Students will understand concepts such as the rule of law & procedural justice.

  • 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 section

Evaluation Method

Section/Participation/Quizzes 35%
In Class Midterm 35%
Final Group Project 30%

Class Materials (Required)

Baum, Lawrence. American Courts, 7th edition. Wadsworth Cengage, 2012. ISBN: 978-04959163

Class Attributes

Social and Behavioral Science Foundational Discipl
U.S. Perspectives on Power, Justice, and Equity
Social & Behavioral Sciences Distro Area

Enrollment Requirements

Enrollment Requirements: Pre-registration -- Reserved for Political Science students until the end of preregistration, after which time enrollment will be open to everyone who has taken the prerequisites.

Associated Classes

DIS - Kresge Centennial Hall 2-440: Fri 10:00AM - 10:50AM

DIS - University Hall 412: Fri 11:00AM - 11:50AM

DIS - Harris Hall L04: Thurs 4:00PM - 4:50PM

DIS - Harris Hall L05: Thurs 5:00PM - 5:50PM