This is a course about the federal courts’ distinctive role in the U.S. legal system. To a great extent, the subject is procedural—that is, it addresses the how of the law, rather than the what. For example, if you want to bring a civil rights suit (or defeat one), you will likely have to acquaint yourself with the law of federal courts. Viewed more abstractly, the course is a chance to explore the powers and responsibilities of the Federal Judiciary within a complex governmental structure.