3 politics of the federal judiciary
DESCRIPTION
Politics of the Federal JudiciaryTRANSCRIPT
Unit VII Lesson 3
Politics of the Federal Judiciary
Essential Question:
• What are the basic civil rights
and liberties of Americans?
• How have significant decisions
of the Supreme Court affected
our basic rights?
• What are the strengths and
weaknesses of court decisions
as instruments of social
change?
“Politics of the Judiciary”
Once confirmed, how long do
Federal Judges serve?
All Federal Judges (including Supreme Court Justices) serve
until they: 1) Retire, 2) Die, or 3) Are Impeached
1
2
3*Only seven federal judges have ever been impeached and
convicted (None of them Supreme Court Justices)2 Years
4 Years
6 Years
Vote?
Still, are Federal Judges TOTALLY
insulated from politics?
Judicial Restraint
Judicial Activism
Judicial Philosophies
Judicial Restraint- When Judges allow a lower court’s ruling to
stand despite possibly disagreeing with it PERSONALLY
(“When courts overturn acts of Congress they are overturning
the will of the people”)
Judicial Restraint
“Stand”
Judicial Activism- Judges should take into account their
personal feelings and the needs of society when deciding cases
and rule in a manner they believe helps American people
Judicial Activism
Judicial
Restraint
1
2https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hc3U-
GPtbY
Judicial Restraint
Judicial Activism
“Obamacare”
2010
5-4
Chief Justice
John Roberts
“…the Power to lay and collect taxes”
Judicial Restraint
Judicial Restraint
2
1
Brown vs the Board of
Education
“Separate but
Equal”
Unconstitutional
“Separate but
Equal”
Unconstitutional
Judicial Activism
Judicial Restraint
Judicial Activism
Judicial Philosophies
Federal Judges and Justices can be
removed from office only by:
A.The President
B.The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
C.The Senate Judiciary Committee
D.Impeachment
Supreme Court justices were given life terms by the Framers of the Constitution in
order to ensure that:
A.Justices be less effected from direct political pressures
B.Justices remain accountable to the will of the public
C.Justices could act as a check against the power of political parties
D.They would never run for president
U.S. Presidents can most influence the
direction of the federal judiciary by:
A.Asking Congress to impeach specific judges
B.Using the media to build consensus of the
President’s position
C.Using the appointment process to select
judges with judicial philosophies similar to his
own
D.Pressuring Congress to pass legislation that
would override judicial opinions
A Supreme Court that demonstrates a
willingness to change public policy and
overturn a lower court’s decision is said to
be engaging in:
A.Judicial Activism
B.Judicial Restraint
C.Judicial Review
D.Judicial Courtesy
“We conclude that in the field of education the doctrine of ‘separate but equal’ has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently
unequal”
The Supreme Court issued this opinion in its ruling on which of the following cases?
A.Gideon v. Wainwright
B.Marbury v. Madison
C.Brown v. Board of Education
D.Miranda v. Arizona
Homework!!!Textbook Pages: 403-
405, 411-114, 423-426
Graphic Novel Pages:
(None)