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.
What are the differences between judicial activism and judicial restraint?
Judicial Activism: Proactive role, protecting rights. | Judicial Restraint: Sticks to precedent, defers to elected branches.
Compare the Legislative and Executive branches' checks on the Judicial Branch.
Legislative: Impeachment, budget control. | Executive: Appointments, enforcement of decisions.
