All Flashcards
What is the effect of the President's power to nominate Supreme Court justices?
Effect: Shapes the court's direction for decades due to lifetime appointments.
What is the effect if the Executive Branch refuses to enforce a Supreme Court decision?
Effect: The Court's power is limited.
What is the effect of Senate's rejection of a Supreme Court nominee?
Effect: The ideological balance of the Court remains unchanged, and the President must find another nominee.
What is the effect of Congress passing a law that contradicts a Supreme Court decision?
Effect: Limits the scope of judicial review and clarifies the law.
What is the effect of public opinion being strongly against a Supreme Court decision?
Effect: The Court might reconsider the decision.
What is the effect of Congress impeaching a Supreme Court Justice?
Effect: The Justice is removed from office, altering the composition of the Court.
What is the effect of the President issuing an executive order that impacts the Court's authority?
Effect: Potentially limits or alters the Court's jurisdiction or enforcement capabilities.
What is the effect of the President pardoning someone convicted by the Supreme Court?
Effect: Nullifies the Court's ruling for that individual.
What is the effect of Congress controlling the Supreme Court's budget?
Effect: Limits the Court's resources and ability to function.
What is the effect of Congress amending the Constitution to overrule a Supreme Court decision?
Effect: Reverses the Court's interpretation of the Constitution on that specific issue.
What role does Congress play in checking the Supreme Court?
Impeachment, overruling decisions, power of the purse, and confirmation power.
What role does the President play in checking the Supreme Court?
Appointments, enforcement of decisions, pardons, and executive orders.
What is the role of the Senate in judicial appointments?
The Senate must approve presidential nominations to the Supreme Court.
What is the role of the Executive Branch in enforcing Supreme Court decisions?
The Executive Branch is responsible for enforcing Supreme Court decisions; lack of enforcement limits the Court's power.
How can Congress limit the Court's power?
Changing the Court's jurisdiction, modifying the impact of a Court decision, or amending the Constitution.
What is the primary role of the Judicial Branch?
Interpreting the Constitution and ensuring laws are applied fairly.
What is the role of higher courts in relation to the Supreme Court?
Higher courts can review Supreme Court decisions through appellate review.
How does public opinion impact the Supreme Court?
Public opinion can influence the Court; strong opposition might lead the Court to reconsider a decision.
What is the impact of lifetime tenure for Supreme Court Justices?
Justices serve for life, so each nomination has long-term implications for the court and the country.
What is the role of the House of Representatives in impeachment?
The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach federal officials, including judges.
What is judicial review?
The power of courts to interpret the Constitution and declare laws unconstitutional.
Define judicial activism.
The Court takes a proactive role, protecting individual rights and liberties, even if they're not explicitly stated in the Constitution.
Define judicial restraint.
The Court sticks to precedent and the text of the Constitution, deferring to the elected branches.
What is impeachment?
Process by which Congress can remove federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices, for 'high crimes and misdemeanors'.
What is appellate review?
When higher courts review Supreme Court decisions.
Define confirmation power.
The Senate must approve presidential nominations to the Supreme Court.
What is 'power of the purse'?
Congress controls the Supreme Court's budget.
What are executive orders?
Directives issued by the President that manage operations of the federal government and have the force of law.
What is a presidential pardon?
The President can pardon individuals convicted by the Supreme Court, effectively nullifying a ruling.
What is jurisdiction?
The authority of a court to hear and decide a case.