PS 12 Winter 2011 Slides for Lectures 14-15
Transcript of PS 12 Winter 2011 Slides for Lectures 14-15
8/2/2019 PS 12 Winter 2011 Slides for Lectures 14-15
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The Supreme Court occupies a majestic building near the Capitol. On
the ground floor is a visitor center and exhibits. The chamber and
justices' offices are on the floor above.
The attic level of the building, which is above the chamber where the
justices hear cases, has been finished into a basketball court for
the use of the justices and their clerks. Within the Supreme
Court, this attic is known jokingly as the real “highest court in the
land."
PS 12 Factoid
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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?
LECTURE 14 OUTLINE
I. Structure of the Judiciary
II. The Nearly Unchecked Power of the Court
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Three Tiers of Courts in the U.S.
System Jurisdiction
Local Courts Municipal Lawe.g. parking ticket
State Courts State Criminal & Civil Lawe.g. most criminal cases
Federal Courts (Federal) Criminal, Civil & Public Law
e.g. Constitutional questionsDistrict Court
(Circuit) Court of Appeals
Supreme Court
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District Court 94 Courts, ~ 663 judges
< 1% of all trials in the US
Supreme Court 1 Court, 9 “Justices”
~90-150 cases/year decided
~1% of cases moveup
(Circuit) Court of Appeals 12 courts, ~ 150 judges
~20% of cases move
up on appeal
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Reagan with
Judge RobertBork, 1987
Judge Roy Snyder
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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?
LECTURE 14 OUTLINE
I. Structure of the Judiciary
II. The Nearly Unchecked Power of the Court
III. Interpreting the Constitution
IV. The Roberts Court
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Selected Constitutional Amendments Introduced in the109th Congress (2005-2006)
To ensure reproductive rights of women
To require a balanced budget
To ensure that all children have a right to a "free and adequateeducation"
To permit prayer at school meetings and ceremoniesTo allow limits on personal funds a candidate can expend in acampaign
To make the filibuster in the Senate a part of the Constitution
To abolish the Electoral CollegeTo allow the President to reduce any Congressional appropriation,
or to disapprove (akin to a line-item veto)
http://www.usconstitution.net/constamprop.html
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American Government , Fig. 2.2
~ 10,000proposals
once
16 times
since BoR
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Example of the Supreme Court’s Power
Congress passes: Flag Protection Act of 1989
…whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces,physically defiles, burns, maintains on the
floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States shall be fined… orimprisoned for not more than one year, orboth.
1984 Gregory Lee Johnson convicted in Texasof flag desecration for burning a flag.
Supreme Court rules flag burning is protectedby 1st Amendment in Johnson v. Texas
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In 1989, Shawn Eichman and othersburn a flag on the Capitol steps,
triggering arrests and theopportunity to challenge in court.
U.S. v. Eichman , 1990
While flag desecration – like virulent ethnic andreligious epithets, vulgar repudiations of the
draft, and scurrilous caricatures – is deeplyoffensive to many… the Government may notprohibit the expression of an idea simplybecause society finds the idea itself offensive
or disagreeable
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1995-2006: Potential 28th Amendment to the Constitution
The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
• Passed the House of Representatives with 2/3 votes:
1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005
• In the Senate received a majority but less than 2/3:
1995, 2000, 2006
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In the Supreme Court, discussion of cases among justices is highly
confidential - not even clerks or staff may enter the room.
Each justice has a regular place at a large table. The seat nearest the
door is reserved for the newest justice, whose job includes
answering a knock at the door, getting coffee and taking messages
in and out of the room.
Presently Justice Kagan performs these duties.
PS 12 Factoid
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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?
LECTURE 15 OUTLINE
I. The Need for Constitutional Interpretation
II. Judicial activism and judicial restraint
III. The Roberts Court
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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?
LECTURE 15 OUTLINE
I. The Need for Constitutional Interpretation
II. Judicial activism and judicial restraint
III. The Roberts Court
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Judicial restraint (strict constructionism)
Reliance on literal text of the Constitution, and
apparent intent of its authors
Deference to Congress on questions not clear fromtext and intent
Judicial activism (contemporary meaning)
Application of the Constitution to new situations andproblems not envisioned or described in the text
No particular deference to Congress
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3rd Freedom from quartering of soldiers in homes
4th Freedom from unwarranted searches and seizures
5th Freedom from double jeopardy, self-incrimination,deprivation of life or property without due process
freedom to have abortion(Roe v. Wade , 1973)
implied freedom from invasion of privacy (Griswold v. Connecticut, 1965)
+
+
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Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission , 2010
Struck down the McCain-Feingold campaign finance
law regulating spending by corporations and unionson “electioneering communications.”
Corporations, non-profits, and unions are associations of citizens, and enjoy 1st amendment protection as if theywere citizens themselves.
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Question: Is the judiciary undemocratic?
LECTURE 15 OUTLINE
I. The Need for Constitutional Interpretation
II. Judicial activism and judicial restraint
III. The Roberts Court
8/2/2019 PS 12 Winter 2011 Slides for Lectures 14-15
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Anthony
Kennedy
(Reagan;Harvard)
Chief JohnRoberts
(GW Bush; Harvard)
Antonin Scalia
(Reagan;
Harvard)
Samuel Alito
(GW Bush; Yale)
ClarenceThomas
(GHW Bush; Yale)
Sonia Sotomayor
(Obama; Yale)
Stephen Breyer
(Clinton; Harvard)
Ruth Bader
Ginsberg
(Clinton; Columbia)
Elena Kagan
(Obama; Harvard)
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Chief Justice
Earl Warren1953-1969
Chief Justice
Warren Earl Burger1969-1986
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Chief Justice
Earl Warren1953-1969
Chief Justice
Warren Earl Burger1969-1986
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