U.S. Politics & Legal Studies

Our faculty explore the values that underpin institutional and policy choices, including the ethical and accountability aspects of policy-making. They are experts in policy-making institutions such as Congress, the Presidency, executive branch agencies, and state and local governments as well as the theories and processes of public policy, including agenda building, the media, instruments of implementation, regulation, interest group activity, intergovernmental relations, budgeting, and tax policy.

Interested in interviewing one of our experts? Contact Communications Manager Buzz McClain at bmcclai2@gmu.edu or 703-993-9603.

  • Photo of Matthew Scherer

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Democratization, Political Theory, United States, Religion, Secularism, Constitutionalism
  • Photo of Louise I. Shelley

    Distinguished University Professor Emerita, and Omer L. and Nancy Hirst Chair Emerita

    Areas of Research: Corruption, Human Trafficking, Illicit Trade, International Security, Soviet Successor States, Terrorism, Transnational Crime
  • Associate Professor; Director, Gender and Policy Center

    Stabile is Associate Professor in the Schar School of Policy and Government where she founded and directs the Gender and Policy (GAP) Center and teaches classes on policy analysis, program evaluation and ethics.
  • Faye S. Taxman

    University Professor, Director of the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!

    Areas of Research: Evidence-Based Practices, Criminal Justice Organizations, Fairness Issues in Risk Assessment, Health and Justice Policies, Corrections and Probation/Parole Implementation Science, Intervention Science, Motivational Interviewing in Justice Settings, Implementation-Effectiveness Studies
  • Photo of Jennifer N. Victor

    Associate Professor

    Areas of Research: Campaign Finance, Elections, Interest Groups, Legislatures, Quantitative Methods, Social Network Analysis, U.S. Politics
  • A photo of the word SCHAR on a concrete block wall.

    Professor Emerita

    Professor Laura Walker, attorney-at-law, was engaged in the private practice of law in Ohio, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Virginia prior to joining the George Mason University faculty.
  • Photo of Janine R. Wedel

    Distinguished University Professor; Codirector, Terrorism, Transnational Crime and Corruption Center (TraCCC)

    Areas of Research: Elite Influencers, Power Networks, Shadow Elites, Privatization of Policy, and Weaponized Corruption in the United States, Central and Eastern Europe, Russia, and Ukraine.