The Judicial Branch

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The Judicial Branch

• AP Government Chapter 16

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Judges

• Strict Constructionists
• Only interpret the Constitution when asked

• Activists
• Study the Constitution
• Actively find issues/cases and rule on them

3
Know your M Ms

• McCulloch v Maryland
• Judicial review
• Supremacy Clause

• Marbury v Madison
• Midnight judges
• Power of the US Supreme Court

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The Dred Scott Decision

• Slavery and the Supremacy Clause
• A slave in a free state is free?
• Federal laws above state laws
• A slave is property

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Characteristics of the US Court system

• A Dual Court system
• Can be altered by Congress
• ( of courts/ judges)

Federal Courts
State Courts
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Jurisdiction

• The Court you go to is determined by
• Parties involved, topic, subject matter

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Types of Jurisdiction

• Original
• Appellate
• Concurrent
• Exclusive

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Get a Job.

• Judges are selected by the President
• Senatorial courtesy
• Litmus tests
• Confirmed by the Senate
• Most have the job for life
• Some special courts have terms

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Special/Constitutional Courts

• 2 kinds of Federal Courts
• Constitutionalin the Const.
• SpecialCreated by Congress

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Some Examples of Courts

• Special
• Territorial Courts
• DC Courts
• Veterans Courts

• Constitutional
• 94 District
• 12 District Appeals
• Military Courts
• International Trade

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Federal Court System

• Page 449

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4 Eras of the US Supreme Court

• 1800 1900 1968
• ________________________________________
• 1860 1930 1990
• 1800-1860 Internal/Governmental questions
• 1860-1920 Economy/Labor/Business
• 1930-1968 Social questions
• 1990-Today States rights

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The US Supreme Court Process

• Outline/Define the steps
• of cases/year
• of Justices to get the case
• Certiorari/Certificate
• Standing/Sovereign immunity

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Process continued

• 5. Class-action suits/in forma pauperis
• 6. Briefs/Amicus
• 7. Oral Arguments
• 8. The conference/vote
• 9. The opinion/decision (Precedents)

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Impact of Decisions

• Some are quick-no brainers
• (stare decisis)
• Influence policies (Plessey-Brown)
• Can make great changes (459)

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Legislation

• Purposely vague to allow for interpretation
• Ex- The New Deal

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Checks and Balances

• Executive
• Select judges
• (senatorial courtesy)

• Legislative
• Create courts
• Alter of Judges
• Impeachment
• Make laws
• Approve appointments

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Policy/Public Influence

• It is inevitable that the decisions of the courts
  will impact policy
• Public opinion influence is minimal because they
  are in office for life
• Generally more active creating policy today