| Title: | The Courts and Democracy |
|---|---|
| Course Section Number: | PSC-213-01 |
| Department: | Political Science |
| Description: | The Courts and Democracy Both federal and Georgia officials prosecuted President Trump in court for seeking to interfere with the 2020 election results. And prior to January 6, 2021, President Trump and his supporters filed over 80 lawsuits in court seeking to set aside that election. Why have both parties tried to get courts to decide disputes about elections? Are unelected judges qualified to supervise elections? Or should we trust those who must win elections to supervise them? Can courts help resolve the issues that have made some Americans distrust election results? Should courts set aside current efforts by both political parties to draw election districts to gain more seats in the 2026 midterm elections than they could win without such manipulation? Are laws that require photo id, that make it a crime to give food and water to those waiting in line to vote, or that strictly limit who can gather up absentee ballots intended to discriminate against minority and poor voters? Do they have that effect? Or are these laws necessary to prevent voter fraud? Do we still need 1960s-era laws intended to stop state and local governments from discriminating on the basis of race in their election laws? In this course we will debate whether courts or elected officials should answer these types of questions. And we will explore how that debate has helped shape the last sixty years of American history. Enrollment of Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors only. |
| Credits: | 1.00 |
| Start Date: | January 19, 2026 |
| End Date: | May 9, 2026 |
| Meeting Information: |
01/20/2026-05/07/2026 Lecture Tuesday, Thursday 09:45AM - 11:00AM, Baxter Hall, Room 212
|
| Faculty: | Himsel, Scott |
Course Status & Cross-Listings
| Cross-list Group Capacity: | 20 |
|---|---|
| Cross-list Group Student Count: | 0 |
| Calculated Course Status: | OPEN |
| Section Name/Title | Status | Dept. | Capacity |
Enrolled/ Available/ Waitlist |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
PSC-213-01
(primary)
The Courts and Democracy |
OPEN | Political Science | 20 | 0 / 20 / 0 |
|
PPE-235-01
(cross-listing)
The Courts and Democracy |
OPEN | Philosophy, Politics, Economic | 20 | 0 / 20 / 0 |