Constitutional Law is offered in two courses. Students are encouraged to take them in sequence but may elect not to, or to enroll in only one. The focus of both courses is on one of the most vital aspects of politics: interpreting and applying the nation's fundamental rules. The emphasis is on the United States Supreme Court and the exercise of judicial review. In this class we examine the structure of power in a constitutional democracy, exploring contests over authority from John Marshall and Thomas Jefferson to Bill Clinton and Kenneth Starr. Some of the topics to be considered include: the powers of the federal and state governments, the executive's emergency powers, and the Supreme Court's authority to nullify the acts of other branches. Under these general headings are to be found such issues as the power to regulate firearms, the power to establish an office of independent counsel, the power to overturn a judicial decision through congressional action, the power to deprive citizens of rights during wartime, the power to define the terms of impeachment, and the power to decide the outcome of a presidential election. Much of the reading is of Supreme Court opinions that highlight the politics of constitutional development. Format: lecture/discussion. Requirements: a midterm, a final exam, and a critical paper of short to medium length. No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 39. Open to first-year students with Advanced Placement credit in American politics. American Politics Subfield