This seminar will explore various ways in which constitutional law interacts with the political process. Topics covered will include the appointment and confirmation process for federal judges and justices, judicial campaigns and elections in the states, controversies over court-packing and court-curbing, the role of social movements in shaping constitutional law, various approaches to "popular constitutionalism," ratification of constitutional amendments, and public opinion and the Supreme Court, among others. Readings will include cases, as well as perspectives from legal scholars, political scientists and historians. Students will be assigned to prepare and circulate discussion questions for one week of the class. Students can choose to write a final R paper or take an exam. Whichever option students choose, the class will be a 2-credit offering. The paper will be due at the law school's paper deadline for fall quarter classes. Students taking the exam will be asked on the exam to answer essay questions about the major issues covered in the class. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer from section (LAW 01) into section (LAW 02), which meets the R requirement, with consent of the instructor Elements used in grading: The grade will be based on the paper or exam, along with class participation.
2 units · Law Honors/Pass/Restrd Cr/Fail
This seminar will explore various ways in which constitutional law interacts with the political process. Topics covered will include the appointment and confirmation process for federal judges and justices, judicial campaigns and elections in the states, controversies over court-packing and court-curbing, the role of social movements in shaping constitutional law, various approaches to "popular constitutionalism," ratification of constitutional amendments, and public opinion and the Supreme Court, among others. Readings will include cases, as well as perspectives from legal scholars, political scientists and historians. Students will be assigned to prepare and circulate discussion questions for one week of the class. Students can choose to write a final R paper or take an exam. Whichever option students choose, the class will be a 2-credit offering. The paper will be due at the law school's paper deadline for fall quarter classes. Students taking the exam will be asked on the exam to answer essay questions about the major issues covered in the class. After the term begins, students accepted into the course can transfer from section (01) into section (02), which meets the R requirement, with consent of the instructor Elements used in grading: The grade will be based on the paper or exam, along with class participation.
Offered in Autumn 2026 at Stanford University.