Course Description
An introduction to the United States Supreme Court as a powerful political institution and its justices as political actors. Major topics include Court history, agenda setting, judicial selection, judicial decision making, lawyers, interest groups, law clerks, oral arguments, and opinion assignment and writing.
Athena Title
Supreme Court Politics
Prerequisite
POLS 1101 or POLS 1105H or POLS 1101E
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
At the end of this course, students should be equipped to: (1) Comprehend the evolving role and power of the Supreme Court as a political institution. (2) Identify and evaluate how political and strategic factors affect presidential and senatorial decisions in the nomination and confirmation of Supreme Court justices. (3) Describe, assess, and critique the primary legal and political theories used to examine and explain Supreme Court justices’ behavior and votes. (4) Identify how justices bargain and negotiate with one another over case outcomes, opinion writing assignments, and opinion content. (5) Access, interpret, and critically analyze U.S. Supreme Court data from 1791 to the present.
Topical Outline
I. Supreme Court history and design II. Social science and studying the U.S. Supreme Court III. The modern U.S. Supreme Court IV. Agenda setting V. Supreme Court nominations and confirmations VI. Supreme Court decision making: Legal model, the attitudinal model, and the strategic model VII. Lawyers, law clerks, and the Court VIII. Oral arguments IX. Opinion assignment and writing