This class is designed to introduce you to the study of law and the courts as an integral part of the political process in the United States, and connections to political science as a subfield. By the end of the semester, each of you will understand the history and principles of the US Constitution, the structure and function of US court systems, the process for selecting judges and justices, how the Supreme Court in particular functions and makes decisions, what factors influence legal decisions, how to interpret Supreme Court decisions, and the on-going debate on the proper role of the Court in a democratic political system.