Identify and explain the organization of the Judiciary
Identify and provide examples of the powers of the Judiciary powers.
Identify and explain how Judiciary shares powers with the Congress, Executive, and bureaucracy.
Discuss the implications of Judiciary sharing powers with each of the following: Congress, Executive, and bureaucracy.
Discuss the functions that Judiciary performs.
Identify how the power of the Judiciary has/may evolve gradually.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and political parties.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and interest groups.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and media.
Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and state and local governments.
1. There are three levels of Federal Courts. SCOTUS is the top tier, the U.S. Court of Appeals is the second tier, and the U.S. District Court is the lowest tier.
2. The Judicial Branch has the power to declare Congressional Legislation unlawful. It also reserves the right to interpret laws.
3. Congress and the Judiciary share power because SCOTUS determines the legitimacy of laws while the Senate confirms Judiciary Nominees. The President appoints Nominees as positions open up and the Courts can overrule executive orders.
4. The separation of powers between the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches is unique in the fact that appointed Political elites are entrusted to oversee elected officials because it runs counter to the democratic process.
5. The Judiciary Branch settles legal issues between parties, as well as interpret laws and investigate executive orders.
6. The Judiciary branch may evolve into more of a legislative body because the court can assist in policy formulation by interpreting laws. It may be contingent on upon a ideologically unified SCOTUS.
7. Political Parties are not supposed to be involved with the Judicial Branch as far as the money goes, but in suits in which a political party is a party, there may be more room for justices to interject personal ideological opinions.
8. Interest Groups are involved with Justices when they are in the process of being confirmed in the senate. IG's will endorse them and advance their case with Senators, or may be the opposite, depends on who hired them.
9. The Media's relationship with the Judicial branch is virtually non existant because cameras are not allowed in courts and all transcripts of hearings are audio files.
10. SCOTUS holds authority over state courts and has the right to handle cases that involve citizens of two states in which laws are not universal.