140 likes | 261 Views
Judicial Branch. JOB. Interprets the laws Determines if law is constitutional (judicial review) There are 9 justices or judges, so there are no tie votes. TERM. Life → so they are free from political pressure How do you get RID of a judge? Retire/Resign Impeach Die. QUALIFICATIONS.
E N D
JOB • Interprets the laws • Determines if law is constitutional (judicial review) • There are 9 justices or judges, so there are no tie votes
TERM • Life → so they are free from political pressure • How do you get RID of a judge? • Retire/Resign • Impeach • Die
QUALIFICATIONS • No specific qualifications, but usually a judge from a lower court
LEADER • Chief Justice
MEMBERS • John Roberts (2005 by GWB) Chief Justice age 55 • Antonin Scalia (1986 by Reagan) age 74 • Anthony Kennedy (1988 by Bush) age 74 • Clarence Thomas (1991 by Bush) age 62 • Ruth Bader Ginsberg (1993 by Clinton) age 77 • Stephen Breyer (1994 by Clinton) age 72 • Samuel Alito (2006 by GWB) age 60 • Sonia Sotomayor (2009 by Obama) age 56 • Elena Kagan (2010 by Obama) age 50
Average age of Supreme Court Justices… • 64 years old
DUTIES • Judicial Review • Reviews laws Congress makes and determines if they are constitutional or not • Gave themselves this power in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Anthony Kennedy Antonin Scalia John Roberts Chief Justice Clarence Thomas Sonia Sotomajor
Stephen Breyer Ruth Bader Ginsberg Samuel Alito Elena Kagan
Flexibility of the Constitution • Necessary and Proper Clause • Judicial Review • Supremacy Clause • The Constitution is the highest law in the land
Unwritten Constitution • Things not specifically written in the Constitution but have become a part of government through time • Cabinet • Judicial Review • Political Parties • Lobbyist (outside people hired to convince gov’t officials to vote a certain way)
Amendments • 27 amendments • Bill of Rights (1st ten amendments) • 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress needed to propose an amendment • ¾ of states needed to approve an amendment