POLT 201 - Comparative Courts

HC SSCI QFR WADV

2 credits
A cornerstone of modern democracies is an independent legal system, where both political elites and the general public adhere to judicial outcomes and accept the legitimacy of courts. Often, the intellectual focus on these topics is centered on the American courts. This course examines courts from a comparative perspective. Throughout the module, students will engage with a broad cross-section of work that explores judicial systems, idiosyncratic processes, and decision-making dynamics across national judiciaries. Substantive topics covered encompass legal traditions, judicial selection and retention, judicial independence, decision-making behavior, compliance with judicial directives, and public support for judicial institutions. Students will produce an original research design paper on comparative courts as the key outcome in the course.

Prerequisites: One course in either American politics or comparative politics.