Neither force nor will: a theory of judicial power

This dissertation seeks to shed greater light on the scope of judicial power and the role of the courts in the American political system. It seeks to expand our understanding of the influence of courts beyond the almost exclusive focus on the aftermath of particular decisions--central to debates about enforcement powers (or the lack thereof)--to a broader understanding of more sophisticated ways in which the judiciary shapes the exercise of political power. I argue that the interactions between the courts and these agents have significant effects on public policy, both within the judiciary and in the broader political system