factors influencing the president’s choice of nominee 4.1 Flashcards
1
Q
where are supreme court justices usually scouted
A
- Appelate courts
- state supreme courts
2
Q
is there any other places in which supreme court justices are appointed
A
law school professors
3
Q
what 3 considerations must the president have in order to appoint a supreme justice
A
- ideological considerations
- Social characteristics
- Political considerations
4
Q
why must the president consider ‘ideological considerations’ when appointing a new supreme justice
A
- whose political and judicial philosophy reflects their own
- LIBERALS = takes a looser, adaptive view
of the Constitution
5
Q
what is the ‘litmus test’
A
when political advisers will scrutinise the different constitutional decisions of the judges and their past actions
6
Q
why must the president consider ‘Social characteristics’ when appointing a new supreme justice
A
- diversity of race and gender are increasingly important influences on a president’s choice of nominee
- Ronald Reagan appointed first female justice = Sandra Day O’Connor
- death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2020 = TRUMP appointed a new female justice, Amy coney Barrett
- GEORGE w. BUSH and Clarence Thomas
7
Q
why must the president consider ‘Political considerations’ when appointing a new supreme justice
A
- political climate needs to be taken into account
- when hostile majority = more moderate, centrist nominee to limit opposition,
- to get senate approval
8
Q
Four reasons why the president’s nominations to the Supreme Court are
so important
A
- infequent appointment, 1 every 2 years
- life tenure usually when young
- 9 members
- judicial review
