D9. Democracy on the Brink

This course will explore the current state of democracy in the United States and examine a number of concerns that have emerged in recent years. How is the republic created by the Framers of the Constitution holding up under current political strains? What are the potential threats to our democracy? What safeguards are available? Topics will include the political phenomenon of Trumpism; the Big Lie, the scheme to overturn the 2020 election and the January 6th insurrection; flaws in the Electoral College and reform of the Electoral Count Act; dysfunctions in the election system (voter suppression, gerrymandering, trends in state laws and politics since the 2020 election); the Elections Clause and the role of federal and state courts in resolving electoral disputes; the influence of white supremacist groups and Christian nationalism; parallels to fascism; the antidemocratic effect of the Senate filibuster; and the political and ideological alignment of the Supreme Court.

John S. Ross, III (Jack) holds degrees from Yale University and the University of Virginia School of Law. He served as Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington & Lee University and has taught numerous courses in the WISE program with a focus on constitutional law and the Supreme Court. Jack also facilitates the WISE Special Interest Group focused on discussing Supreme Court case decisions.