Things to Know - Federal Courts (1).docx

Liberal and conservative blocs on the Supreme Court

Liberal - Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan; Conservative - Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Coney Barrett:The division of Supreme Court justices into liberal and conservative blocs based on their judicial ideologies.

Supreme Court Firsts

Sandra Day O’Connor, Thurgood Marshall, Sonya Sotomayor:Justices who were the first in their respective categories on the Supreme Court.

Most significant Supreme Court Chief Justices and what made them the most important

John Marshall, Earl Warren, Warren Burger, William Rehnquist:Notable Chief Justices and their contributions to the Court's history.

Why do federal judges have life appointments?

The rationale behind granting federal judges life appointments.

Explain the process of how the Supreme Court decides to hear a case

The steps involved in the Supreme Court's decision-making process to accept a case for review.

Explain the process of how the Supreme Court justices decide a case

The procedure followed by Supreme Court justices to reach a decision on a case.

What is the significance of the different kinds of opinions issued by the justices? The opinion, Concurring opinion, Dissenting opinion

The importance of various types of opinions issued by Supreme Court justices.

What is the importance of precedent?

The significance of legal precedent in judicial decision-making.

What qualifications does a president consider when selecting a Supreme Court justice?

The criteria considered by a president when nominating a Supreme Court justice.

What is the function of the chief justice? And who is the current chief justice?

The role of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the current Chief Justice.

How many members are there on the Supreme Court? How can the size of the Court be changed?

The number of justices on the Supreme Court and the process for changing the Court's size.

What is the difference between the judicial philosophies of

a living constitution, originalism, and textualism?:Distinctions between different judicial philosophies.

What is the evidence that we have a living constitution?

Evidence supporting the concept of a living constitution.

What is the difference between a formal and informal amendment to the Constitution?

Contrasts between formal and informal methods of amending the Constitution.

What was the “court packing plan?”

The historical proposal to expand the Supreme Court known as the "court packing plan."

In which cases did the Supreme Court establish each of the following

right to privacy, same-sex marriage liberty, interracial marriage liberty, desegregation of schools?:Landmark Supreme Court cases establishing key rights and principles.

What are the requirements to serve as a Supreme Court justice?

The qualifications necessary to become a Supreme Court justice.

What is the basic structure of the federal court system?

The fundamental organization of the federal court system.

Why are the federal district courts so important?

The significance of federal district courts in the judicial system.

What federal circuit court of appeals is Texas a part of?

The specific federal circuit court of appeals that includes Texas.

Why is the Second U.S

The reasons behind viewing the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as akin to a junior Supreme Court.

When has the Court allowed the government to have powers that would, in other times, be considered violations of constitutional rights?

Instances where the Supreme Court permitted government actions that might otherwise violate constitutional rights.

What restrictions can Congress exercise over the federal courts?

The limitations imposed by Congress on the federal courts.

What was the “nuclear option” and its relationship to the federal courts?

The concept of the "nuclear option" and its connection to the federal courts.

What is the importance of amicus curiae briefs?

The significance of amicus curiae briefs in legal proceedings.

What is the importance of the U.S

The role of the U.S. Solicitor General and its impact on the Supreme Court's decision to hear a case.

What is “judicial activism,” and can both liberals and conservatives be “judicial activists?” Explain.

The concept of judicial activism and its applicability across different ideological spectrums.

What is the significance of the Citizens United v

The importance of the Citizens United v. FEC ruling in 2010.

How does the dissenting opinion in Plessy v

The connection between the dissenting opinion in Plessy v. Ferguson and the decision in Brown v. Board of Education.