Legal Studies 257 - Law & Pol of Voting Rights/US

"This course traces political and legal struggles over the right to vote and access to electoral power in the United States from the nation?s early history to the present. In this class, you will explore questions such as: What does the U.S. Constitution say about the right to vote? How is the vote protected ? and left unprotected ? by the Constitution and its amendments? What does the Voting Rights Act do? How did it transform the politics of voting in the United States? Why do many people now believe the Voting Rights Act is in trouble? How does the organization of districts ? and the redistricting process ? affect who gets represented in American politics, and how much representation different groups receive? Why are many states now erecting new obstacles to voting? What impact are these policies having on voter participation? What have the courts said about the constitutionality of these laws? What can states and the federal government do to help people vote? How are cutting edge policies affecting voter turnout in the states? What are the consequences of felony disenfranchisement laws for voting in the United States? What are the prospects for the re-enfranchisement of people convicted of felonies? How have social movements for voter access influenced the development of voting rights laws? Throughout, the course focuses on the interaction between law and courts, political institutions, party mobilization and elections, and social movements in struggles over the right to vote.

Open to Legal Studies majors only. Pre Req: LEGAL 250