Election Law

This course will examine the laws governing political process in the United States, with a focus on how these laws both reflect and determine political power relationships. The course will survey federal and state statutory law, as well as the constitutional structure within which they operate, with an emphasis on the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Students will be asked to critically examine the legal, social, and political factors that structure political participation in the United States, with a particular focus on their impact on racial and economic justice. Topics covered will include the right to vote, political representation, election administration, political parties, and campaign finance.