Law, Money and Power

This course will explore some of the ways that law, legal institutions, and legal actors determine the allocation of money and other resources in society. It will also explore the ways that the power that individuals and institutions enjoy is a function of the way the law operates to determine the allocation of money and other resources. The readings are specifically designed to help the student critically consider the extent to which racial bias is baked into certain aspects of the U.S. legal system. Class discussions will potentially cover the origins of such bias, its dimensions, its drivers, and its impacts. The course also will challenge students to consider ways to address such bias. Students should be prepared to devote considerable time to reading and commenting on material that will help them analyze and discuss these issues in depth. This course fulfills the Additional Upper Level Writing Requirement.