Chapter Study OutlineIntroduction Show Courts serve the essential functions of arbitrating disputes in society and interpreting the Constitution and the laws. The American judiciary is an independent institution that also serves the separation of powers function of checking Congress and the president. Throughout American history, the judiciary has settled constitutional crises, helped protect the rights and liberties of the American people (including noncitizens), and helped promote the American economy by ensuring liberty. Although the Supreme Court’s constitutional powers are relatively meager, its authority emanates from its ability to interpret the Constitution and laws. Independent but inherently political, the American judiciary has expanded its agenda and its power throughout American history. 1. The Judicial Process What types of cases does the American judiciary hear and decide? How does it proceed and render its decisions?
2. The Organization of the Court System What types of courts constitute the federal judiciary? How are those various courts organized and what are their responsibilities? How are justices and judges selected?
3. How Courts Work as Political Institutions Treating judges as political actors and the judiciary as an important political institution, what functions do federal courts perform?
4. The Power of Judicial Review What is judicial review? How and when was it established? How frequently and in what way is it used in contemporary American politics?
5. The Supreme Court in Action What is the process by which cases reach the Supreme Court? How is the flow of cases determined? What procedures does the court employ to prepare, hear, and decide on cases?
6. Judicial Decision Making How does the Supreme Court make its decisions? How does it interact with Congress, the president, and the executive branch in the separation of powers framework? How might we consider these interactions as strategic behavior on the part of the Supreme Court?
7. The Expanding Power of the Judiciary How has the power of the judiciary changed over time? What are the traditional limitations on the federal courts? How did the courts seek to overcome these limitations in the twentieth century?
How does the Supreme Court reach its decisions in its cases quizlet?If four judges agree to hear a case, the court issues a writ of certiorari. The two sides submit briefs to the Supreme Court and there is a one-hour hearing, thirty minutes per side. The justices then meet in private and vote. The majority writes the opinion of the court outlining why it decided the case as it did.
What is the Supreme Court explained?A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of courts in most legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, apex court, and high (or final) court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court are not subject to further review by any other court.
What is the basis for Supreme Court decisions quizlet?The Supreme Court upholds a law passed by Congress as constitutional. The chief justice states in the majority opinion that previous decisions supporting Congress' power to make laws based on the commerce clause of the Constitution were the basis for the decision.
What is the purpose of the Supreme Court quizlet?The Supreme Court's main purpose is to interpret the law and defend the Constitution. Often they must hear the cases of lower federal courts. They must assure that laws follow the Constitution.
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