Checks on the courts

Question 1

Appointments

Answer 1

Trump in his 4 year term appointed Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Niel Gorsuch, creating 6-3 conservative majority court for the first time in decades

FDR appointed 9 justices, dramatically changing the ideological composition of the court

Question 2

Impeachment

Answer 2

weak argument

1804 Samuel Chase, he was not removed

but incentivises court to act in good behaviour

Question 3

Court packing

Answer 3

1937 FDR proposed the ‘judicial procedures reform bill’ which aimed to increase the court from 9 justices to 15 to change the ideological composition of the court and secure favourable rulings for his New Deal

court however did not let this pass, called the ‘switch in time that saved nine’ as it would vest too much influence in the executive

Question 4

Clemency power

Answer 4

POTUS pardoning individuals of crimes.

e.g Ford Pardoned Nixon on the offences in the watergate scandal in 1974

Trump pardoned lil wayne in 2021 for federal weapons charges

Question 5

Constitutional amendment

Answer 5

13, 14 and 15th amendments abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment

requires 2/3 in senate and 3/4 of states