This seminar will examine the political, institutional, and constitutional constraints and forces that shape the rules governing litigation in the federal courts. Particular attention will be given to ways that access to the federal courts has been narrowed in the last three decades using procedural rules. Readings will focus on selected topics of federal civil procedure, including class actions, attorneys' fees, injunctive remedies, and full-faith and credit. Students will have two options for satisfying the writing requirement: they may write (1) a seminar paper, or (2) three medium-length policy or response papers. Students will also be required to present their written work. To that end we will dedicate several sessions to student presentations of papers or works-in-progress.