The Judicial Branch Of Government: The Process Of Selection And Appointment Of Supreme Court Justices

Question 1

Who is reasonable for nominating the next Supreme Court justice?

Answer 1

The President

Question 2

Who initially draws up the possible list of Supreme Court judge nominees?

Answer 2

The president’s team including the president’s political advisers, party and legal experts

Question 3

Which conservative group did Trump promise to choose candidates suggested from to the supreme court in the run up to the 2016 presidential elections?

Answer 3

The Federalist Society

Question 4

which house must confirm nominees to the Supreme Court?

Answer 4

The Senate

Question 5

Who does background-checks on Supreme Court potential nominees?

Answer 5

The White House’s lawyers and the FBI

Question 6

How was Justice Anthony Kennedy (served 1988-2016) interviews by the FBI?

Answer 6

For more than 10 hours on topics ranging from his sexual history and to his treatment of animals

Question 7

What is an example of the White House vetting process failing?

Answer 7

In 1987 Douglas Ginsburg, nominated by Ronald Reagan, had to withdraw a few days later when it was discovered that he used marijuana while a law professor

Question 8

Who considers the presidents Supreme Court nominee?

Answer 8

Senate Judiciary Committee (a standing committee)

Question 9

Who is the only current Supreme Court judge to have never been a judge before?

Answer 9

Elena Kagan, who was previously a solicitor general at the Deparmtnent of Justice

Question 10

What does the vote for a nominee by the Senate Judiciary Committee do?

Answer 10

It is only a recommendation to the Senate but tends to indicate the ease or difficult of the candidate to be confirmed

Question 11

What is some example of the Senate Judiciary Committee indicating the ease or difficulty of a judge to be confirmed by the Senate?

Answer 11

Ruth Bader Ginsburg (1993-2020) received a unanimous vote from the committee before being approved by 93-3 senators, while Clarence Thomas (1991-) 7-7 committee vote was followed by a 52-48 vote in the Senate

Question 12

In most of the Court’s history, how many votes are need in the Senate to invoke a cloture (end the filibuster) that is allowed to prevent a vote for a nomination to the Supreme Court?

Answer 12

60 votes, though the intreated of the ‘nuclear option’ in 2013 by the Democrat-controlled house changed this to a simple majority

Question 13

Which Supreme Court justice, in 2020, became the first in more than 150 years not to receive a single vote from the minority party in the Senate?

Answer 13

Amy Coney Barrett

Question 14

When was the last time a Supreme Court nominee was formally voted against?

Answer 14

1987

Question 15

When was the last time a supreme court nominee was withdrawn from the president?

Answer 15

2005

Question 16

Why did the Republican controlled Senate not consider Barack Obama’s nominated to the Supreme Court, Merrick Garland, in March 2016?

Answer 16

As the presidential election was due in November, though in September 2020 the Republican controlled Senate allowed Trump’s nomination, Amy Coney Barrett, though the presidential elections were weeks away

Question 17

Which two supreme court justices were accused of sexual assault and were just merely confirmed by the Supreme Court?

Answer 17

Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh

Question 18

What is an example of a Supreme Court justice switching their ideologies once appointed?

Answer 18

David Souter (served 1990-2009), nominated under H.W Bush, became unexpecjtaidlt liberal member of the court once appointed