U.S. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW |
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Part One: Class, Race, and Gender |
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Political Science 401/501, Winter 2004 |
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COURSE
READINGS AND RESOURCES
Most of our reading materials are on electronic reserve at Alden Library Required cases that are recent enough not to be included in the packet are available online at the Legal Information Institute housed at Cornell Law School . You can access these cases using the lynx server on your OAKS account or through more graphic Netscape software available at several campus locations. The LII service allows you to do full text and topical searches of the last decade of Supreme Court decision making, to read and/or print the abstract (called a ‘syllabus') or full text of an opinion, concurrence or dissent, and to explore a wide variety of legal research avenues through the links provided. There are also a number of law and pre-law links provided at the bottom of this document Additionally, there are copies of THE OXFORD COMPANION TO THE SUPREME COURT available at Little Professor and at the reference desk in Alden Library. The Oxford Companion is a recent and widely welcomed encyclopedia of the Supreme Court with explanations of cases, mini-biographies of justices, definitions of terms and concepts, and lots of other great stuff. Though not required for the course, students in the past few years have found it a very helpful reference book and supplement to the main course readings. Finally, a list of recommended additional readings is provided below, in the event that you want to learn more about law and politics or a specific area of inquiry. ADDITIONAL READINGS The Court and Court History Lawrence Baum, THE SUPREME COURT (Somewhat dry but thorough institutional overview) Walter Murphy and C. H. Pritchett, COURTS, JUDGES, AND POLITICS (Collection of essays and cases demonstrating many facets of the court and politics) Robert McCloskey, THE AMERICAN SUPREME COURT ------, THE MODERN SUPREME COURT (Two classic historical works on the court. First is better; covers much of 19th century court covered in class; Second goes through 'sixties) Henry Abraham, FREEDOM AND THE COURT (broad and interesting overview of SC's work with Bill of Rights issues) Alexander Bickel, THE LEAST DANGEROUS BRANCH (Classic work on judicial review and restraint) Bob Woodward, THE BRETHREN (sordid tale of intrigue and personality on the court) Anthony Lewis, GIDEON'S TRUMPET (Inspiring tale behind Gideon v. Wainwright right to counsel case). Law and Politics Michael McCann, RIGHTS AT WORK: PAY EQUITY REFORM AND THE POLITICS OF LEGAL MOBILIZATION. Chicago, University of Chicago Press, 1994. (Law and legal ideology have helped to break down gender discrimination) Gerald Rosenberg, THE HOLLOW HOPE: CAN COURTS BRING ABOUT SOCIAL CHANGE? (The SC made no difference for women and blacks) Stuart Scheingold, THE POLITICS OF RIGHTS (How do law and lawyers make a difference in political movements?) David Kairys, (ed) THE POLITICS OF LAW (Best essays by feminist, minority and leftist scholars of the critical legal studies movement ((The "Crits"))). David O'Brien, STORM CENTER (Readable overview of the Court's role in political controversies) Judith Baer, WOMEN IN AMERICAN LAW (overview of history and status of women and womens' movement) John Gilliom, OVERSEERS OF THE POOR: SURVEILLANCE, RESISTANCE, AND THE LIMITS OF PRIVACY Jurisprudence Michael McCann and Gerald Houseman, (eds) JUDGING THE CONSTITUTION (collection of critical essays on legal theory and jurisprudence) Lief Carter, REASON IN LAW (accessible work trashing idea of legal formalism) --- CONTEMPORARY CONSTITUTIONAL LAWMAKING (less accessible book trashing idea of legal formalism) Robert Bork, THE TEMPTING OF AMERICA (Bork protests his fate and explains his formalist jurisprudence of original intent)
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