Judiciary Power Flashcards
What is the power of judicial review?
The power to review the constitutionality of federal and state laws and executive acts.
What did Marbury v. Madison decide?
The authority of the ct. to decide that acts of Congress are unconstitutional.
Congress may not amend SCOTUS’s original jurisdiction.
Historical background of Marbury v. Madison
Federalist retrenchment. Lame duck president (Adams) appoints John Marshall as Chief Justice. Federalist Senate passes Circuit Cts Act (16 new judgeships). Jefferson takes office and refuses to deliver appointments.
Could SCOTUS grant Marshall the remedy he sought?
No. §13 of The Judiciary Act (granting SCPTUS the right to hear the case) unconstitutional b/c granted judiciary moe power than Const. allowed. Art III §2 of COnst. defines maximum fed. SMJ.
What was the genius of Marbury?
Case dismissed for lack of jurisdiction but demonstrated that SCOTUS has the right to review acts of Congress.
Congress’s levers of political influence over the Judiciary
budget and appropriation
the size of Supreme Ct
amending Const.
impeachment
President’s levers of political influence over the Judiciary
control over the enforcement of federal law
appointments to the judiciary
What did Fletcher v. Peck decide?
Case decided that SCOTUS can invalidate state law
What did Martin v. Hunter’s Lessee decide?
Case decided the legitimacy of SCOTUS’s review of state court judgments.
§25 of Judiciary Act
Act gave SCOTUS jx when the state resolves a federal question. SCOTUS gets fed appellate jx.
What did VA v. Cohens decide?
Case extended SCOTUS’s authority to review constitutionality of laws and state court judgments to when the state itself was a party.
Why are state laws subject to SCOTUS review?
because in ratifying the constitution, states effectively agreed to subject themselves to the power of Art. III
What Article of the Const gives subjects state laws to SCOTUS review?
Article III
Practical and political constraint on federal judicial power
The judiciary has no way to enforce their decisions.
The Exceptions Clause Art. III, §2, cl 2
Congress can make exceptions to SCOTUS’s appellate jx. The Const. only lists a ceiling to SCOTUS’s jx. “In all cases before mentioned…shall have appellate jx…with such exceptions and under such regulations as Congress shall make.”
What gives Congress authority to create inferior courts?
Article III §1
What gives Congress authority to define the appellate jx of inferior courts?
Article III §2, cl. 2
Over what cases does SCOTUS have original jx?
Cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party.
What did ex Parte McCardle decide?
When restricting the court’s jx, Congress’s intent does not matter. The judiciary may not “inquire into the motives of the legislature.” Congress can make exceptions to cts’ appellate jx, regardless of its motives.
What are some tools the legislature and exec branch can use to restrict the judiciary outside of Art III?
constitutional amendments impeachment of justices C to determine size and timing of SCOTUS selection of process of justices exec enforcement (or lack thereof)
What are some limits on Congress’s exception power?
C may not interfere with the essential/ core functions of SCOTUS
C cannot violate Constitution
What is an advisory opinion?
Occurs when there is a lack of standing, mootness, or ripeness. Unenforceable ct. decision.
What Const. provision defines advisory opinions?
Art. III Cases and Controversies
What does Art. III Cases and Controversies state?
states that ct. decisions must be concrete and non-hypothetical
Why are advisory opinions prohibited?
separation of powers
Judicial role limited to deciding actual disputes
What is the minimum requirement for a litigant to bring a case or controversy under Art III?
the litigant must have standing
What are the 3 essential requirements for standing? Lujan
injury in fact
causation
redressabiilty
How must a generalized grievance be resolved?
through the political process
injury in fact
concrete and particularized, and actual or imminent (not abstract or hypothetical)
causation
caused by allegedly wrongful conduct of D. Traceable to conduct of D.
redressability
relief sought will redress the alleged injury. Can be partial relief.
What must be decided before a case is decided on its merits?
jx nature–standing
What did CA v. Lyons demonstrate?
case shows an injunction against future action won’t redress personal injuries
What did Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife show?
Where P raises only a generally available grievance, vidication of the public interest is up to the Exec Branch and C.
What article describes when a person has standing? Can this be adjusted?
Art III. C cannot change minima via statute
Does one have standing if there is a procedural injury?
No, unless the injury is tied to the underlying injury in fact
What is a procedural injury?
the government’s allegedly unlawful failure to follow a certain, legally required process
unripeness
Case brought too soon. Insufficiently developed
Why does the requirement of ripeness exist?
To prevent Ps from bringing premature, undredressable adjudication
Mootness
injury no longer exists or is no longer redressable
How does a case become moot?
If circumstances change, such as death, settlement, or change in law.
What are the exceptions to mootnes?
voluntary cessation by D
capable of repetition, yet evading review
Why does voluntary cessation by D not make a case moot?
Because D is free to resume behavior
Why is an injury that is capable of repetition, but that has evaded review, not moot?
Because the challenged conduct is too short lived to be fully litigated prior to cessation/ expiration
Examples of something capable of repetition yet evading review for purposes of mootness
pregnancy, abortion injuries
What are political questions?
Questions invested in the Leg or Exec branches to resolve (elected branches)
What are the characteristics of a political question?
- textual commitment from Const. to an elected branch
2. lack of judicially discoverable and manageable standards fro resolving an issue
What cts. can answer political questions?
No federal courts. Under Art III cases and controversies.
What case demonstrates the “political question analysis?”
Zivotofsky v. Clinton
Strict scrutiny
presumption of unconstitutionality
intermediate scrutiny
important and closely related
rational basis
presumption of constitutionality
Acronym for lack of Fed Jud jx
RAMPS R- ripeness A- abstention M-mootness P-political question S-standing
