Reviews for GVPT431

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Martin Kobren GVPT431 Expecting an A Anonymous 12/27/2023	He's lenient with grades but he's overrated. He pushes this view on you and asks you questions while only wanting an answer he agrees with. Nevertheless, it was an interesting course that was well taught, I just wish he could leave his own views out of it.
Michael Spivey GVPT431 Expecting an A- Anonymous 05/11/2018	Massively overrated, but still a good teacher. I simply don't understand the cult of personality around this man. Class isn't too hard if you just show up and listen/take notes, grading expectations are reasonable.
Michael Spivey GVPT431 Expecting a B+ zkiesel 12/03/2015	Best professor I've ever had in my collegiate life. You'll never be bored in lecture. Never. He'll get everyone involved, even in a 250-seat lecture hall. You'll learn more in this class than any other you've ever had. Exams and assignments are more than fair, and very straight-forward. If you go to class and listen to his world-famous hypotheticals, you'll be fine. He's had a ton of experience with the law, and is an insanely smart dude. Has more degrees than I can count, and just earned his PhD from Maryland a few months ago.
Michael Spivey GVPT431 Expecting an A Anonymous 11/17/2014	Prof. Spivey is a tricky guy to evaluate. The discussions during class are fun and very informative. You will learn a lot about topics that relate to daily life, and learn to assess and evaluate case law. Exams are fair and test to see if you know the general idea of what is going on in the class.
Michael Spivey GVPT431 Anonymous 12/04/2012	Awesome professor. Very intelligent, actually an attorney with a lot of law and political experience out in the field which he tells the class about when it's relevant. Very friendly and open, has weekly scheduled lunches with students in the dining hall in an effort to get to know them. The material is good stuff too, you learn about a LOT of Supreme Court cases, though it might not seem like it all the time, but all the material falls together like a puzzle to make his larger point about govt structure and SCOTUS. Speak up in class! But be ready to think on your feet, he doesn't wait for you to get your thoughts together, things move fast and he challenges anyone who speaks up, there's no bsing or intellectually 'getting away with it.' It can be a little unnerving and embarrassing at first, but he's a really nice guy, so it's not personal, he's just trying to get you to think. Don't know why first review made a big deal about Bush v. Gore - he reads these reviews and he made an effort to not be biased after reading that.
Michael Spivey GVPT431 Expecting a B Anonymous 12/01/2011	As a Government and Politics major this was easily one of the best classes I have ever taken. It's not a great class because it's easy, it's a great class because of Professor Spivey. He constantly challenges you on your beliefs and makes you really think about what you believe and how you think this country should be run according to the Constitution. If you have ever had any question about the Constitution or not, take this class because afterwards it may be answered, but you might start questioning it more yourself and whether it can be improved. Amazing class that I highly recommend for anyone who enjoys law. And yes while he hates Bush v. Gore, he's right it's a stupid case. But you won't do poorly if you get it as a case, he's not that biased.
Michael Spivey GVPT431 Anonymous 12/10/2008	Dr. Spivey is a great teacher with a balanced approach to the law. In 431, American Constitutional Law, you'll spend about 1/3 of the course looking over the Federalist and Anti-Federalist papers. The rest of the course is spent reviewing and arguing Supreme Court cases which contain some sort of constitutional question. You have somewhat of a choice, but ultimately you are assigned one of these cases and expected to present, as a petitioner or respondent, an oral argument before the class. Bush v. Gore is an option, but don't pick it. If you have to argue Bush's side, you're in for it; Spivey hates that court decision (with good reason).