Law of the Political Process

This course examines the constitutional and statutory framework that governs the American electoral process. Specific topics include: the right to vote; legislative apportionment, including the role of population, race, and partisanship in districting; access to the ballot and the regulation of political parties; and campaign finance regulation. We will examine the relevant constitutional law, primarily under the First, Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments, as well as key statutes, such as the Voting Rights Act, the Federal Election Campaign Act, and the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act