POLISCI 330
:
Constitutional Law
This course is an intersection of political science and the law. It uses the constitution, laws, and
the courts to show us how checks and balances, separation of powers, and federalism operate. In the class,
students will read and brief U.S. Supreme Court cases that deal with the following areas: the power of the Supreme
Court and the Court’s decision-making process, separation of powers and checks and balances, and the American
federal system. The course explains why the president receives greater leeway in foreign relations than domestic
affairs and the United States Supreme Court’s role in this determination. It also explains how the Court shaped
changes in the American Federal System, which morphed from dual federalism to various forms of cooperative
federalism over time. This course is designed to enhance student understanding of the American legal system,
American national institutions, the Constitution, the American federal system, and the Supreme Court.
