VOTING RIGHTS & THE LEGAL STRUCTURE OF THE AMERICAN POLITICAL PROCESS (3) (GOV125)

Introduction the rules governing the democratic process, focusing on the impact of electoral outcomes on American politics and how institutional political structures define and in some cases limit democratic preference. Emphasizes specially the role of the Supreme Court in the development of voting rights, reapportionment, ballot access, the federal Voting Rights Act, minority vote dilution, the redistricting process, the rights and obligations of political parties, and regulating campaign finance. Also considers alternative voting schemes, such as cumulative voting, preference voting and limited voting and assesses whether these alternative schemes are politically viable within the context of existing political processes.

Prerequisites: Constitutional Law I (REQ200) and Constitutional Law II (REQ250)