Judicial Branch

JOB

Interprets the laws

Determines if law is constitutional (judicial review)

There are 9 justices or judges, so there are no tie votes

TERM

Life → so they are free from political pressure

How do you get RID of a judge? Retire/Resign Impeach Die

QUALIFICATIONS

No specific qualifications, but usually a judge from a lower court

LEADER

Chief Justice

MEMBERS

John Roberts (2005 by GWB) Chief Justice age 55

Antonin Scalia (1986 by Reagan) age 74 Anthony Kennedy (1988 by Bush) age 74 Clarence Thomas (1991 by Bush) age 62 Ruth Bader Ginsberg (1993 by Clinton) age

77 Stephen Breyer (1994 by Clinton) age 72 Samuel Alito (2006 by GWB) age 60 Sonia Sotomayor (2009 by Obama) age 56 Elena Kagan (2010 by Obama) age 50

Average age of Supreme Court Justices…

64 years old

DUTIES

Judicial Review Reviews laws Congress makes and

determines if they are constitutional or not

Gave themselves this power in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803)

John Roberts

Chief Justice

Antonin Scalia

Anthony Kennedy

Sonia Sotomajor

Clarence Thomas

Ruth Bader Ginsberg

Stephen Breyer

Samuel Alito

Elena Kagan

Flexibility of the Constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause-ALSO- called ELASTIC CLAUSE….fit the needs of a changing society!!!!!!

Judicial Review

Supremacy Clause The Constitution is the highest law in

the land

Unwritten Constitution

Things not specifically written in the Constitution but have become a part of government through time

2 term president(Washington)=Amendment 22 Cabinet Judicial Review Political Parties Lobbyist (outside people hired to

convince gov’t officials to vote a certain way)

Amendments

27 amendments

Bill of Rights (1st ten amendments)

2/3 vote of both houses of Congress needed to propose an amendment

¾ of states needed to approve an amendment

Amendment 1-RAPS-FREEDOM of religion,

Assembly, Press, SpeechAmendment 2-Right to bear armsAmendment 3-Quartering of TroopsAmendment 4-No illegal Search or SeizureAmendment 5-original intent-Life, Liberty, happiness-Rights of the Accused

Bill of Rights

1. RAPPS-Freedom of Religion, Assembly, Press, Petition, Speech

2. Right to Bear Arms3. Right of Quartering Troops4. No illegal Search or Seizure

Amendment 6-Trial by Jury Amendment 7-Trial by Jury-Civil cases Amendment 8-No excessive

fines/punishments Amendment 9-Rights of the People Amendment 10- Rights of the People

and the States