US key terms 4: The Supreme Court & civil rights

Question 1

CONSERVATIVE JUSTICE

Answer 1

> loves stare decisis
Justice with a more narrow view of Const. - literal interpretation
believing in a generally smaller gov.

Question 2

IMPERIAL JUDICIARY

Answer 2

All powerful
>checks & balances on = weak & ineffective

Question 3

JUDICIAL ACTIVISM

Answer 3

Approach to judicial decision - Justice should use their position to promote desirable social ends

Question 4

JUDICIAL RESTRAINT

Answer 4

Approach to judicial decision - Justice should defer to exec. & leg. branches] politically accountable to the ppl
>great stress on the principle established in previous court rooms

Question 5

JUDICIAL REVIEW

Answer 5

Ability of SC to declare acts of Cong. AND act/ actions of the presidency UNCONSTITUTIONAL and therefore null & void

Question 6

LIBERAL JUSTICE

Answer 6

Interprets Const. more broadly to give ppl more freedom & bring about social change

Question 7

STARE DECISIS

Answer 7

Doctrine
>standing by decided cases
>favour status quo
>opposite of the ‘living constitution’

Question 8

LIVING CONSTITUTION

Answer 8

> evolutionary doc.
change over time through re-interpretation by the SC

Question 9

SWING JUSTICE

Answer 9

Informal name for the Justice on SC who falls ideologically in centre of the 9 current justices