Course Syllabus

PS 380 (Intro to Law in American Society)

Spring 2005

Instructor:Dr. Troy Gibson

Contact Information:

  • Office: Hardy Hall 223
  • Phone: 228-867-2607
  • E-mail:
  • Website: ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w487033
  • Office Hours: Monday 10-11am and TR 2-3pm

Course Description:

This course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts, structures, participants, procedures and controversies that makeup the American judicial process.

Course Materials:

Judicial Process: Law, Courts, and Politics in the United States. By Neubauer and Meinhold.

Taking Sides, 11th Edition. Edited by Katsh and Rose.

Course Requirements:

Midterm Exam – 35%

Final Exam – 35%

Daily Grades (homework assignments and participation)– 10%

Case Exercise (Orals and Briefs) – 20% (consult course website for details)

*All grading employs a 10-point scale.

Course Outline:

Jan. 11 13 – Class Organization and Chapter 1 (Law, Courts, Politics)

18 20 – Chapter 2 (Law and Legal Systems)

25 27 – Chapter 3 (Federal Courts)

Feb. 1 3 – Chapter 4 (State Courts)

810 – Chapter 13 (Appellate Process)

15 17 – Chapter 14 (Supreme Court: Deciding What to Decide)

2224 – Chapter 15 (Supreme Court: Justices and Their Decisions)

Mar.1 3 – Chapter 5 (Lawyers) and Midterm

8 10 – Chapter 6 (Judges)

15 17 – SPRING BREAK!!!!

22 24 – Chapter 7 (Mobilizing the Law; Interest Groups, Cases, and Media)

29 31 – Chapter 8 (Trial Courts: Preliminary Stages of Criminal Cases)

Apr. 5 7 – Chapter 9 (Trial Courts: Bargaining and Sentencing in Criminal Courts)

12 14 – Chapter 10 (Trial Courts: Preliminary Stages of Civil Cases)

19 21 – Chapter 11 (Trial Courts: Dispositions of Civil Cases) and

26 28 - Chapter 12 (Trial)and Briefs due on Tuesday

May 3 5 – Oral Arguments

Attendance:

I consider college students fully capable of making appropriate decisions with respect to class attendance and equally capable of living with the consequences of those decisions. Makeup exams will not be administered without acceptable documentation of a serious health problem requiring medical attention or excused school function (notify me well in advance). No makeup daily grades will be administered for any reason, as I will drop your lowest daily grade at the semester’s end.

Academic Dishonesty Policy

I strictly follow this institution’s standards with respect to academic dishonesty. Conviction will result in an automatic “F” in the course and may also involve an additional penalty from outside authorities. Consult your Student Handbook for details.

Student Disability
If a student has a disability that qualifies under the Americans with
Disabilities Act and requires accommodations, he/she should contact
the Office for Disability Accommodations (ODA), for information on appropriate policies and procedures.Box 5128; voice telephone or TTY 214-3232.