Spencer, Doug

Research

Professor Spencer is an election law scholar whose research addresses the role of prejudice and racial attitudes in voting rights litigation, the empirical implications of various campaign finance regulations, and the ways that election rules and political campaigns contribute to growing inequality in America.

LAWS 5205 - Legislation and Regulation
Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022
Introduces lawmaking in the modern administrative state. Examines the way Congress and administrative agencies adopt binding rules of law (statutes and regulations, respectively) and the way that implementing institutions, courts and administrative agencies, interpret and apply these laws. Considers the structure of the modern administrative state, the incentives that influence the behavior of the various actors, and the legal rules that help to structure the relationships among Congress, the agencies and the courts.
LAWS 6005 - Constitutional Law
Primary Instructor - Spring 2022 / Spring 2023 / Spring 2024
Studies constitutional structure: judicial review, federalism, separation of powers; and constitutional rights of due process and equal protection.
LAWS 6708 - Special Topics
Primary Instructor - Fall 2024
Explores special topics in law. May be repeated up to 12 total credit hours.
LAWS 7325 - Election Law
Primary Instructor - Fall 2021 / Fall 2022 / Spring 2024 / Fall 2024
Examines the rapidly evolving field of election law: the right to vote, voting procedures, redistricting, candidate selection, campaign finance laws and direct democracy. Emphasizes federal law, including applicable constitutional jurisprudence.