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Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. Professor of American Politics R. Shep Melnick has received the 2012 “Lasting Contribution Award” for his 1994 book Between the Lines: Interpreting Welfare Rights from the Law and Courts Section of the American Political Science Association.
This award is given annually for a book or journal article 10 years or older that has “made a lasting impression on the field of law and courts,” according to the association. In its citation for the award, the awards committee said the book’s emphasis on the role of courts in the policy-making process “makes it a foundational study in the discipline. Noted for its exhaustive research and incisive analysis, Melnick’s book sets the framework for understanding statutory decision-making by lower federal courts. Between the Lines seamlessly integrates courts into the rest of the political system and has informed both research and teaching within the subfield of courts and law for almost two decades.”
Melnick’s book is frequently assigned both in political science courses and in law schools.
Appointed as O’Neill Professor in 1997, Melnick teaches courses in the Political Science Department and at the Law School. He is offering an undergraduate course titled Tip O’Neill and the Evolution of American Politics to commemorate the 100th birthday of legendary House Speaker Thomas P. O’Neill ’36. Melnick is currently finishing a book on how competing institutions have shaped civil rights policy.