POL 310 Constitutional Politics (3 credits)

An examination of how the supposedly weakest of the three branches of the federal government has come to exercise political power. The course will study how the Court has employed its functions of judicial review and statutory interpretation to enhance its role within the political system. Cases examined will span the period from Marbury v. Madison (1803) to Bush v. Gore (2000). The course will also review how the appointment and amendment processes have been used to influence the judiciary.