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Political scientists have long recognized the important policy role played by courts in our political system. The National Association for the advancement of Colored People and the American Civil Liberties Union are the most obvious examples of groups in the twentieth century who have successfully used litigation as a means of policymaking. There are literally dozens of other groups today which vigorously pursue such a litigation strategy--women's organizations, environmental groups, consumers groups, lesbian and gay organizations, as well as a more recently active range of conservative groups. The list is a long and varied one. To study American government in the latter half of the twentieth century without analysis of policymaking by litigation is to ignore a critical component of our national policymaking system. In this seminar each student will choose a different litigation group to research and will be responsible for presenting the results of that research in two written and in-class oral presentations. The seminar will work together to evaluate the implications and results of the courts as policymakers in a representative republic using the student case studies and a number of readings in journals and books.
COURSE FORMAT: Seminar
Level: UGRD Credit: 1 Gen Ed Area Dept: SBS GOVT Grading Mode: Graded
Prerequisites: NONE
Last Updated on MAR-24-2000
Copyright Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, 06459