ps 12 winter 2011 slides for lectures 14-15

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The Supreme Court occupies a majestic building near the Capitol. On

the ground floor is a visitor center and exhibits. The chamber and

 justices' offices are on the floor above.

The attic level of the building, which is above the chamber where the

 justices hear cases, has been finished into a basketball court for

the use of the justices and their clerks. Within the Supreme

Court, this attic is known jokingly as the real “highest court in the

land."

PS 12 Factoid

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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?

LECTURE 14 OUTLINE

I. Structure of the Judiciary

II. The Nearly Unchecked Power of the Court

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Three Tiers of Courts in the U.S.

System Jurisdiction

Local Courts Municipal Lawe.g. parking ticket

State Courts State Criminal & Civil Lawe.g. most criminal cases

Federal Courts (Federal) Criminal, Civil & Public Law

e.g. Constitutional questionsDistrict Court

(Circuit) Court of Appeals

Supreme Court

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District Court 94 Courts, ~ 663 judges

< 1% of all trials in the US  

Supreme Court 1 Court, 9 “Justices” 

~90-150 cases/year decided 

~1% of cases moveup

(Circuit) Court of Appeals 12 courts, ~ 150 judges 

~20% of cases move

up on appeal

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Reagan with

Judge RobertBork, 1987

Judge Roy Snyder

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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?

LECTURE 14 OUTLINE

I. Structure of the Judiciary

II. The Nearly Unchecked Power of the Court

III. Interpreting the Constitution

IV. The Roberts Court

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Selected Constitutional Amendments Introduced in the109th Congress (2005-2006)

To ensure reproductive rights of women

To require a balanced budget

To ensure that all children have a right to a "free and adequateeducation"

To permit prayer at school meetings and ceremoniesTo allow limits on personal funds a candidate can expend in acampaign

To make the filibuster in the Senate a part of the Constitution

To abolish the Electoral CollegeTo allow the President to reduce any Congressional appropriation,

or to disapprove (akin to a line-item veto)

http://www.usconstitution.net/constamprop.html

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 American Government , Fig. 2.2

~ 10,000proposals

once

16 times

since BoR 

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Example of the Supreme Court’s Power

Congress passes: Flag Protection Act of 1989

…whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces,physically defiles, burns, maintains on the

floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined… orimprisoned for not more than one year, orboth.

1984 Gregory Lee Johnson convicted in Texasof flag desecration for burning a flag.

Supreme Court rules flag burning is protectedby 1st Amendment in Johnson v. Texas 

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In 1989, Shawn Eichman and othersburn a flag on the Capitol steps,

triggering arrests and theopportunity to challenge in court.

U.S. v. Eichman  , 1990

While flag desecration – like virulent ethnic andreligious epithets, vulgar repudiations of the

draft, and scurrilous caricatures – is deeplyoffensive to many… the Government may notprohibit the expression of an idea simplybecause society finds the idea itself offensive

or disagreeable

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1995-2006: Potential 28th Amendment to the Constitution

The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.

• Passed the House of Representatives with 2/3 votes:

1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005

• In the Senate received a majority but less than 2/3:

1995, 2000, 2006

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In the Supreme Court, discussion of cases among justices is highly

confidential - not even clerks or staff may enter the room.

Each justice has a regular place at a large table. The seat nearest the

door is reserved for the newest justice, whose job includes

answering a knock at the door, getting coffee and taking messages

in and out of the room.

Presently Justice Kagan performs these duties.

PS 12 Factoid

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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?

LECTURE 15 OUTLINE

I. The Need for Constitutional Interpretation

II. Judicial activism and judicial restraint

III. The Roberts Court

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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?

LECTURE 15 OUTLINE

I. The Need for Constitutional Interpretation

II. Judicial activism and judicial restraint

III. The Roberts Court

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Judicial restraint (strict constructionism)

Reliance on literal text of the Constitution, and

apparent intent of its authors

Deference to Congress on questions not clear fromtext and intent

Judicial activism (contemporary meaning)

 Application of the Constitution to new situations andproblems not envisioned or described in the text

No particular deference to Congress

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3rd Freedom from quartering of soldiers in homes

4th Freedom from unwarranted searches and seizures

5th Freedom from double jeopardy, self-incrimination,deprivation of life or property without due process 

freedom to have abortion(Roe v. Wade  , 1973)

implied freedom from invasion of privacy (Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965)

+

+

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Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission  , 2010

Struck down the McCain-Feingold campaign finance

law regulating spending by corporations and unionson “electioneering communications.”  

Corporations, non-profits, and unions are associations of citizens, and enjoy 1st amendment protection as if theywere citizens themselves.

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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?

LECTURE 15 OUTLINE

I. The Need for Constitutional Interpretation

II. Judicial activism and judicial restraint

III. The Roberts Court

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 Anthony

Kennedy

(Reagan;Harvard)

Chief JohnRoberts

(GW Bush; Harvard)

 Antonin Scalia

(Reagan;

Harvard)

Samuel Alito

(GW Bush; Yale)

ClarenceThomas

(GHW Bush; Yale)

Sonia Sotomayor

(Obama; Yale)

Stephen Breyer

(Clinton; Harvard)

Ruth Bader

Ginsberg

(Clinton; Columbia)

Elena Kagan

(Obama; Harvard)

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Chief Justice

Earl Warren1953-1969

Chief Justice

Warren Earl Burger1969-1986

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Chief Justice

Earl Warren1953-1969

Chief Justice 

Warren Earl Burger1969-1986

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