Kenneth Manning

Kenneth Manning serves as a Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Political Science within the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. His office is located in Spruce Hall, and he can be reached at 508-999-8366 or kmanning@umassd.edu.

Manning holds a PhD from the University of Houston. His educational background has prepared him for a career focused on American political institutions and processes.

Manning's research centers on American politics with a specialized focus on judicial politics. His scholarly work examines the functioning of courts at various levels of the American judicial system, particularly investigating how judges make decisions and the factors that influence judicial behavior. He has developed expertise in both federal and state court systems, with particular attention to district courts and their role in the broader legal landscape.

His publication record reveals a consistent trajectory of research on judicial decision-making processes, with increasing sophistication in methodology and scope. Manning's work spans theoretical examinations of judicial ideology to empirical analyses of specific factors like gender, age, and international considerations in court decisions. His research demonstrates a commitment to understanding how the judiciary functions as a political institution within the American constitutional framework.

• Co-author of Judicial Process in America
• Co-author of The Federal Courts
• Co-author of The State Courts

As an educator, Manning teaches courses including PSC 212: American Politics in Film and PSC 322: Constitutional Law. His teaching approach encourages students to view political phenomena through multiple lenses, as evidenced by his film course which analyzes political issues through cinematic representation. He is also actively engaged in research collaboration, serving as co-investigator with Robert A. Carp on a database tracking federal district court decision-making.

Manning maintains an active research agenda focused on the federal judiciary, particularly examining patterns in judicial behavior and decision-making across various contexts. His work contributes to the broader understanding of how courts function as political institutions within the American constitutional system.