SCOTUS Flashcards
what is affirmative action
actions aimed at providing equal opportunities for individuals from historically disadvantaged or underrepresented groups
define racial equllity + teh deate around it
- Racial equality refers to the principle and goal of treating individuals of all races and ethnicities with fairness, justice, and equal opportunitie.
- the deabte is to what extent there needs to be afirmative action to chaive this
waht are consitutinal rights
Constitutional rights are the liberties granted to individuals by a country’s constitution. These rights are considered inherent and above all else
what is a swing justice
A Swing Justice refers to a member of the United States Supreme Court who does not consistently align with either the liberal or conservative factions of the Court
what is a constructionalsit view of the consitution
- interprets the Constitution based on its literal meanign without room for interpritation and that this is possible.
- there can be stricked and loose construtionalsit and originalsits and constructionalsit are often united
what is an originaist view of the consitution
interpriting the consitutionbased on its original meaning at the time of its adoption and intended by the framers
defien public policy
Public policy refers to the decisions, actions, and plans implemented by governments and other authoritative bodies to address societal issues
what it it calle dif you belive that teh consitution’s interpretation should consider the current values, needs, and circumstances of society
- this is teh idea of a living consitution
what is judicial review
Judicial review is the power of the courts to review and determine the constitutionality of laws, regulations, executive actions, and government decisions ( i they are within the consitutional frame work )
what is a liberal justice
- Liberal justices tend to support a broad interpretation of the Constitution, emphasizing individual rights and liberties, equal protection, and social justice
- basiclly much more likly to have a living conitution view
whats is a conservtive justcie
- conservative or traditionalist views on constitutional
- more lilly to take a constructionalsit/originallyst view
whast the idea of an imperial judicary
- a judicary ercising excessive power or overstepping its constitutional role
what is judical activism + what is it an exaple of
- when a judges inteprites/applies a law in a way that goes beyond the original intent of the Constitution
- an imperial judicary
what is judicial restraignt
- Judicial restraint refers to the approach taken by judges to limit their own power and defer to the decisions of the elected branches of government, such as the legislature and the executive, whenever possible. It involves a more limited role of the judiciary in interpreting and applying the law, with a focus on strict adherence to the text and original intent of the Constitution.
1. however Chief Justice John Roberts on teh AHA was both judicial restraint and judical activism.
what is “stare decisis”
Latin term that translates to “to stand by things decided.” It is a legal doctrine that refers to the principle of following established precedent or previously decided cases when making decisions in current or future cases. Under the doctrine of stare decisis, courts are generally expected to adhere to the rulings and interpretations made in earlier cases
OR OF HIGHER COURTS
what is teh idea of teh politisistion of teh judicary
The idea of the politicization of the judiciary refers to the perception or concern that judges or judicial decisions are influenced by political considerations rather than being solely based on legal analysis and interpretation. this can either be though a lack of neutrllity or inderpendence.
what steh operite to the defendant
the plaintiff
* The plaintiff is the party who initiates a lawsuit
what artical is the judicary
3
how was thesupream court created
- teh federal judicary act 1789 alsmot dirrectly after the consitution was created
- this is beaue the consitution left the structure of the courts up to congress ( this included creating federal courts and the numbre of judges on teh courts)
- the act called for there to be a cheif justice and assosiate justice
- created district courts bellow, avove this appellate courts
- ( the supream court is teh higehst appelete court)
what are the two levels of supream court justcies
- assosiate Justcie
- cheif justice- presides over but no aditonal powers
is the supream court overtly mentioned in the conitution
yes “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court”
whats Original jurisdiction + whats unque about SCOTUS interms of this
- Original jurisdiction refers to the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time
- it is both an appelate court and has Original jurisdiction in some cases
when does the supream court have Original jurisdiction
- Cases involving disputes between two or more states
- Cases affecting forign diplomats
what are the enumerate dpowers of teh supream court
- Supreme Court as the highest judicial authority in the United States
- This section outlines the jurisdiction of the federal courts. It specifies the types of cases that fall under the jurisdiction of the federal judiciary, including cases involving the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, treaties, and disputes between states. It also grants the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in cases affecting forign diplomat and cases invoving a state as a party. ( most cases where a state is a party do not go straight to the Supreme Court
- (comon law- not implied but also not enumerated)
what are the implied pwers of the suprea court
- Judicial Review: The power of judicial review is an implied power of the Supreme Court, which allows it to review the constitutionality of laws and government actions. This power was established in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison (1803) and is considered a fundamental aspect of the Court’s authority. - this also applied to state legislatures in Fletcher v. Peck in 1810
- setting Precedent: The Supreme Court’s power to establish legal precedent is an implied power. Precedent refers to the principle that previous court decisions should be followed in subsequent similar cases, providing stability and consistency in the interpretation and application of the law. - ( as teh highet scourt i the land)
- Interpreting the Constitution: ( madison vs mamsbury)
- acting as a checks and Balancing agegent for the other Branches of Government
what are the primary roles of the supream court
- jucical review: desiding the cosnitutionallity of law
- Interpreting the consitution
- setting legal presidnets
- Safeguarding Individual rights
- finally Resolving Legal Disputes
- acting as a checks and Balancing agegent for the other Branches of Government
why is the supream court considered inderpendent ( main reason )
- its roel is set out in the speration of powers in the cosnitution, no other braches of governemtn are above it or can take its powers away
what was the isgnificance of madison vs masbury to the supream court
- established the princiapl of judical review of federal gov
- In Marbury v. Madison, the Supreme Court was faced with the question of whether it had the authority to declare an act of Congress unconstitutional.
- 1803
what was the significanc eof fletcher vs peck to the suprea court and when did it occure
- 1810
- Fletcher v. Peck is a significant Supreme Court case decided in 1810 that established the principle of judicial review of state laws
lsit all the points that makes the supream court inderpendent
- justices appointed for life
- fixed salleries whiel in office
- speration of powers
- (ABA ratings)
evaluate the vire that teh supream court is inderpendent just points and exples
congressional powers
* fixed salleries
1. As of 2021, the salary for an associate justice of the Supreme Court is $255,000 per year. These are determined by congress but remainset thought their tenure
* Congressional Legislation and conaitutional amendments
1. congress has the power to legislate aginst teh courts desions : Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) of 1993. This law was passed by Congress in response to the Court’s decision in Employment Division v. Smith (1990), which established a new standard for evaluating the constitutionality of laws restricting religious practices. The RFRA restored a stricter standard for evaluating such laws, essentially overturning the Court’s ruling. teh supream courts rulign would have making it more difficult for individuals to challenge laws that placed burdens on their religious beliefs and practices.
appointments
* in debted to presient and congress men who appointed them
* perminace on the court
1. once appointed has been cofirmed it cnaot be repealed
2. clarence thomas 32 years
3. most serve till they die or retire - rush bader ginsburge died after 27 years of sevrise
consitutional speration fo powers
* seperate enumerated powers
1. artical 3 higehst court in the land and interperte teh consiution
2. maison vs mamasbury juducial review congres and president
3. fletcher vs peck - judicila review of the states
* impeachement
1. never happened
2. ( 15 federal judges: thomas porteous 2010
3. almost abe fortas in 1968 for montry reasons
what are incidentally burdened religious practices
Incidentally burdened religious practices refer to situations where a law or government action has the effect of placing blam on an individual’s religious beliefs or practices,
other than bret kavenar who lese has sexsual harrasment agligations gaist them
clarrence thomas 1991
what factors influence a preisdents choise of nomiation of a supream court justce + e.g
- age
1. kentanji brown 51 - ideological leaning
1. decomrts wll paoint more liber justices vs republican more consrvtiev
2. when trump first appointed neil gorsuch and brett kavear they were seen to be very right wing and there was a big public outcry - Legal Experience and Qualifications
1. ABA rating
2. bush 2005 harriet miers
3. robbert bork 1987 regan - Diversity and Representation
1. amy coney barret to replace ruth bader ginsburge ( cosnensus she aught to be a woman)
2. kentanji brown ajckson being a young qualifiedback female likly playe da role in her appointment by biden in 2022 - Confirmation Prospects
1. obama tried to appoint Merrick Garland in 2016, pickign a more centrist candidate to try get him passed though a republican controled senate
who were trumps upream court appointments
- Neil Gorsuch
- brett Kavanaugh
- amy coney barret