PUBPOL 495 (Policy Seminar) is for students currently enrolled in the Public Policy Undergraduate Program only, no exceptions. Enrollment is by permission only.
How do the judges on the Supreme Court make their decisions? What were the real issues in cases such as Roe v. Wade, and how did the Court come to overturn this decision? How do judges in different eras decide cases differently? The Supreme Court is a unique contributor to public policy in the United States, and as such is a frequent topic of academic and media discussion and analysis. While you may be familiar with political or media interpretations of cases, you may not be familiar with legal arguments and the methods used by the Court in making decisions.
In this course, we will explore some of the most influential Supreme Court cases, and how they came to be decided. For each case, in addition to understanding the reasoning of the Court, we will understand the background, the political or social context of the case, the legal arguments involved, how select subsequent cases have interpreted it, and how the case influenced public policy. In the process of these discussions, you will develop skills in reading and understanding cases, legal research, logical argument and understanding legal and policy implications of Supreme Court decisions.
The main writing assignment for this class will be a research paper in which you undertake legal and policy analysis of a particular line of Court decisions.
