LAW 657LEC - Election Law

Democracy does not just happen by itself; it must be implemented and institutionalized by constitutional and legislative means. This course examines American election law, conceived in the broadest possible terms. Topics include the structure of republican government, the sources of state and federal power to regulate the electoral system, the right to vote, apportionment and representation, candidates’ rights, the party system and the conduct of political campaigns. Throughout, we will try both to discern the philosophical assumptions that underlie contemporary election law, and to determine whether existing legal frameworks effectively institutionalize those assumptions.

Credits: 3