Democratic Party. Kay Moxon 9 B The judicial branch of Students should Students should focus on the current Chapter 7: ‘The government (): about the current composition of the Supreme Court. In Supreme and process of selection and Supreme Court particular, students should look at the protection of appointment of Supreme justices including recent appointments to the court and rights and liberties’ in Court judges which President their impact. A2 US Government current composition of the appointed them and and Politics by Court. their ideological Anthony J Bennett leaning. Students should consider why the Chapter 14: ‘The nomination process is so politically Students should Supreme Court and controversial and has been criticized. It about how justices are Judicial Politics’ in should be stressed that justices can be appointed, factors American Politics placed on an ideological spectrum taken into account and Society by David according to how liberal or conservative when appointing McKay (2017: 9th they are in decision making. The justices and the role of Edition) current court is split into two ideological the Senate in the blocs a conservative quartet and a – process. liberal quartet. The two blocs are Politics Review separated by a single justice, March 2016 sometimes described as the Death of a ‘swing justice’. Students should understand Supreme Court the significance of the justice’. justice: Emma ‘swing However, it should also be stressed Kilheeney considers that this can change over time what the death of – justices can become more or less Justice Antonin liberal and conservative. It is also Scalia means for the dependent upon the cases the justices US Supreme Court hear in a particular court term. and for Obama Politics Review
Democratic Party. Kay Moxon 9 B The judicial branch of government (): process of selection and appointment of Supreme Court judges current composition of the Court. Students should about the current Supreme Court justices including which President appointed them and their ideological leaning. Students should about how justices are appointed, factors taken into account when appointing justices and the role of the Senate in the process. Students should focus on the current composition of the Supreme Court. In particular, students should look at recent appointments to the court and their impact. Students should consider why the nomination process is so politically controversial and has been criticized. It should be stressed that justices can be placed on an ideological spectrum according to how liberal or conservative they are in decision making. The current court is split into two ideological blocs – a conservative quartet and a liberal quartet. The two blocs are separated by a single justice, sometimes described as the ‘swing justice’. Students should understand the significance of the ‘swing justice’. However, it should also be stressed that this can change over time – justices can become more or less liberal and conservative. It is also dependent upon the cases the justices hear in a particular court term. Chapter 7: ‘The Supreme and the protection of rights and liberties’ in A2 US Government and Politics by Anthony J Bennett Chapter 14: ‘The Supreme Court and Judicial Politics’ in American Politics and Society by David McKay (2017: 9th Edition) Politics Review March 2016 Death of a Supreme Court justice: Emma Kilheeney considers what the death of Justice Antonin Scalia means for the US Supreme Court and for Obama Politics Review
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