printer friendly pagePOLISCI 124R: The Federal System: Judicial Politics and Constitutional Law
Does the constitution matter? And if so, how exactly does it shape our daily lives? In this course, we will examine the impact of structural features, such as the separation of powers and federalism. While these features often seem boring and unimportant, they are not. As we will see, arguments over structure were at the heart of the debates over slavery, the incarceration of the Japanese during WWII, the drug war and gay marriage. Prerequisites: 2 or equivalent, and sophomore standing. Fulfills Writing in the Major requirement for PoliSci majors.
Terms: Aut
| Units: 5
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci
POLISCI 124S: Civil Liberties: Judicial Politics and Constitutional Law
The role and participation of courts, primarily the U.S. Supreme Court, in public policy making and the political system. Judicial activity in civil liberty areas (religious liberty, free expression, race and sex discrimination, political participation, and rights of persons accused of crime). Prerequisites: 2 or equivalent, and sophomore standing.
Last offered: Autumn 2012
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci
POLISCI 125M: Latino Social Movements (CHILATST 181)
Historically significant and contemporary political and social movements in Latino communities in the U.S., with a focus on events of the modern era such as the Spring 2006 marches and student walkouts, the 2009 Basta Dobbs campaign, the 2010 resistance to Arizona's SB1070, and ongoing efforts in 2014 and 2015 related to detention and deportation policies.
Last offered: Autumn 2015
POLISCI 125P: The First Amendment: Freedom of Speech and Press (COMM 151, COMM 251)
Introduction to the constitutional protections for freedom of speech, press, and expressive association. All the major Supreme Court cases dealing with issues such as incitement, libel, hate speech, obscenity, commercial speech, and campaign finance. There are no prerequisites, but a basic understanding of American government would be useful. In addition to a final and midterm exam, students participate in a moot court on a hypothetical case. (Grad students register for
COMM 251)
Last offered: Winter 2015
POLISCI 125S: Chicano/Latino Politics (CHILATST 125S)
The political position of Latinos and Latinas in the U.S.. Focus is on Mexican Americans, with attention to Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans, and other groups. The history of each group in the American polity; their political circumstances with respect to the electoral process, the policy process, and government; the extent to which the demographic category Latino is meaningful; and group identity and solidarity among Americans of Latin American ancestry. Topics include immigration, education, affirmative action, language policy, and environmental justice.
Last offered: Autumn 2014
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-EDP, WAY-SI
POLISCI 125V: The Voting Rights Act (AFRICAAM 125V, CSRE 125V)
Focus is on whether and how racial and ethnic minorities including African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latinos are able to organize and press their demands on the political system. Topics include the political behavior of minority citizens, the strength and effect of these groups at the polls, the theory and practice of group formation among minorities, the responsiveness of elected officials, and the constitutional obstacles and issues that shape these phenomena.
Last offered: Spring 2014
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, WAY-EDP, WAY-SI
POLISCI 126P: Constitutional Law (COMM 152, COMM 252)
This course covers Supreme Court case law concerning governmental powers, equal protection, and certain fundamental rights. The course investigates the constitutional foundation for democratic participation in the United States, covering topics such as the Fourteenth Amendment's protections against discrimination on grounds of race, gender, and other classifications, as well as the individual rights to voting and intimate association, and an introduction to First Amendment rights of free speech and press. Students will be evaluated on class participation, a midterm moot court with both a written and oral component, and a take-home final exam. Lectures will be twice per week and a discussion section once per week.
Last offered: Spring 2016
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
POLISCI 127A: Finance and Society for non-MBAs (ECON 143, MS&E 147, PUBLPOL 143)
The financial system is meant to help people, businesses, and governments fund, invest, and manage risks, but it is rife with conflicts of interests and may allow people with more information and control to harm those with less of both. In this interdisciplinary course we explore the forces that shape the financial system and how individuals and society can benefit most from this system without being unnecessarily harmed and endangered. Topics include the basic principles of investment, the role and ¿dark side¿ of debt, corporations and their governance, banks and other financial institutions, why effective financial regulations are essential yet often fail, and political and ethical issues in finance. The approach will be rigorous and analytical but not overly technical mathematically. Prerequisite:
Econ 1
Terms: Win
| Units: 4
POLISCI 127P: Economic Inequality and Political Dysfunction
This course will examine how two of the defining features of contemporary U.S. politics, economic inequality and political polarization, relate to each other and to Congressional gridlock. The reading list will focus on several books recently authored by preeminent political scientists on this important topic. The course will cover a range of topics, including the disparity in political representation of the preferences of the affluent over those of the poor, the origins of Congressional polarization, the influence of money in politics, budgetary politics, immigration policy, and electoral and institutional barriers to reform.
Last offered: Winter 2013
| UG Reqs: WAY-SI
POLISCI 128S: The Constitution: A Brief History (AMSTUD 157, HISTORY 157)
A broad survey of the Constitution, from its Revolutionary origins to the contemporary disputes over interpretation. Topics include the invention of the written constitution and interpretative canons; the origins of judicial review; the Civil War and Reconstruction as constitutional crises; the era of substantive due process; the rights revolution; and the Constitution in wartime.
Last offered: Winter 2015
| UG Reqs: GER:DB-SocSci, GER:EC-AmerCul
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