American Federal Government Chapter 12 The Judiciary Judicial

American Federal Government Chapter 12: The Judiciary

Judicial Review a. Federal courts can declare acts of Congress or Executive unconstitutional b. Founders: interpret law, not create policy c. Parliament does not have this check d. Strict constructionist approach a. Apply stated/clear rules e. Activist approach a. Interpret general principles b. Apply personal philosophy

Judicial Review a. http: //www. hippocampus. org/course_locator? skin. Path= http: //www. hippocampus. org/hippocampus. skins/default &course=AP%20 Government%20 and%20 Politics&less on=30&topic=2&topic. Title=Judicial%20 Review%20 and %20 Construction

National Supremacy a. National law is supreme b. State law must yield c. Supreme Court interprets Constitution d. Marbury v. Madison a. Judicial review e. Mc. Culloch v. Maryland a. Supremacy of national law

Hearing From The Justices a. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=w. Ufl 9 -cw. Jt 4

Chief Justice John Marshall & Roger Taney a. http: //www. hippocampus. org/course_locator? course=AP% 20 US%20 History%20 I&lesson=22&topic=3&width=800&h eight=684&topic. Title=John%20 Marshall&skin. Path=http: // www. hippocampus. org/hippocampus. skins/default

Chief Justice Warren Burger a. http: //www. hippocampus. org/course_locator? skin. Path=http : //www. hippocampus. org/hippocampus. skins/default&cours e=AP%20 Government%20 and%20 Politics&lesson=29&top ic=3&topic. Title=Warren%20 Burger

Chief Justice Earl Warren a. http: //www. hippocampus. org/course_locator? skin. Path=http: //www. hippocampus. org/hippocampus. skins/default&course =AP%20 Government%20 and%20 Politics&lesson=29&topic =2&topic. Title=Earl%20 Warren

Dred Scott Case a. Blacks not citizens of U. S. b. Missouri Compromise unconstitutional a. Federal law prohibiting slavery in north

Civil War - New Deal Era a. Protecting private property from state action b. Inconsistent c. Limited rights to blacks a. Segregation upheld b. Exclusion from voting

1937 - 1974 a. Out of the economic regulation business b. Switch to supporting New Deal c. Political liberties and civil rights

Appointments a. President nominates; Senate confirms b. Senatorial courtesy - if senator from candidate's state objects a. Lower court - senator gives approval c. Filibuster - at least 60 votes to break d. Rejection a. Hostility to civil rights b. Personal finances c. Poor record d. Legal philosophy

Confirmation Process a. http: //www. hippocampus. org/course_locator? skin. Path=http: //www. hippocampus. org/hippocampus. skins/default&course =AP%20 Government%20 and%20 Politics&lesson=31&topic =2&topic. Title=The%20 Confirmation%20 Process

Elena Kagen Opening Statement a. http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=XFk. Vwvlp. XUk&feature=r elated

Federal Courts a. Supreme Court in Constitution b. All other federal courts: created by Congress c. Constitutional Court a. Judicial powers from Article 3 b. Judges can't be fired c. District courts (lowest) d. Court of appeals d. Legislative Court a. Special purpose b. Fixed term of office

Federal Court Jurisdiction a. Federal question cases a. Under Constitution, U. S. laws, treaties b. Diversity cases a. Citizens of different states b. Over $75, 000 c. Criminal cases a. State and federal law, choice d. Federal regulatory agency e. Bankruptcy f. State governments

Standing a. Legal concept: who can bring a suit b. Controversy c. Harm d. Not just a taxpayer e. Sovereign immunity a. Suit allowed against govt many times if contract dispute or negligence

Class Action Suit a. Case brought on behalf of group who were harmed b. Brown v. Board of Education c. Make national policy through Courts instead of Congress d. If seeking money damages, each affected person has to be notified e. Easier in state court

Making It To The Supreme Court a. Rejects 95% requests b. In forma pauperis c. Interest groups may pay/represent d. Writ of certiorari a. At least 4 members b. Decision involves "substantial federal question" c. Interpretation of federal law or Constitution

Supreme Court In Action a. Step 1: Writ of certiorari granted b. Step 2: Lawyers present briefs a. Summarize lower court decision b. Argue for their side c. Other decisions that fit d. Amicus curiae brief interested party not directly involved

Supreme Court In Action a. Step 3: Justices argue & vote a. Guided by Chief Justice b. Debate and make arguments c. Vote - must be majority d. If tie, lower court decision stands b. Step 4: Written opinion a. Unanimous b. Majority c. Concurring d. Dissenting

Judicial Power a. Change national policy outside Congress b. Change precedent c. Handle once-legislative matters d. Remedies can be sweeping

Checks on Judicial Power a. Congress can change composition through confirmation b. Impeach judges c. Change number of judges d. Undo Court decision by amending Constitution e. Repass law declared unconstitutional f. Congress decides jurisdiction of lower courts g. Public opinion a. Decisions, not the institution h.

Group Discussion Group 1: What are the four types of power judges have? How do they work within the system of government and laws? Group 2: Is judicial activism good or bad? Why? Group 3: What are the checks on judicial power? Are they effective? Group 4: What is the process to get to the Supreme Court? What kinds of cases normally make it there? What happens to a case once it's there?