POLI 170American Judicial Process

Catalog

This class is an overview of the judicial system of the United States of America. In this course, we will discuss the structure of the American judiciary, its function, and the participants within it. These discussions will cover the following topics: civil v. criminal cases; trial courts v. appellate courts; differences in jurisdiction among courts; the recruitment of judges; how judges make decisions; how cases come to the courts and how they find their way to the Supreme Court; the impact of the courts on society; the implementation of decisions; public opinion about the courts; the relationship between the various levels of courts; and the success of litigants and interest groups in court.