Rights of the Accused: Court Takes More Conservative Position on Civil Liberties
The Supreme Court began to take a more conservative approach to civil liberties in the years following the Warren Court. There was even an unsuccessful effort to overturn the Miranda decision. Terry v. Ohio which recognized the right of police offic...
Rule of Nine: Selecting and Deciding Cases
Selecting the cases for any given court year begins the summer before the Supreme Court's term begins. Law clerks assigned to each justice reduce the number of petitions that will be placed on the discuss list. If four justices agree to take a case,...
Rule of Nine: Supreme Court Vacancies
A president's opportunity to appoint someone to the Supreme Court extends his or her influence long past the presidential term. The selection of a nominee is primarily influenced by ideological compatibility, identity politics, and competence. On a ...
Physician-Assisted Suicide
Philosopher Michael Sandel criticizes the argument that the Supreme Court should adopt a neutral position that does not prevent individuals from opting for physician-assisted suicide. Professor Sandel talks about the opposing view, which does not ag...
Interpreting the Bill of Rights
Philosopher Michael Sandel contrasts liberal and republican political philosophies, using historical interpretation of the Bill of Rights as a means by which to discuss the differing conceptions of freedom and citizenship that each of these philosop...
Rule of Nine: Issuing Decisions and Opinions
Once opinion writing is complete and the justices have reviewed it, the Court's decision and the vote margin are announced at the next open session. The opinion explains the reasons behind the decision from the point of view of the majority and, sep...
Rule of Nine: Cases Heard by the U. S. Supreme Court
Except for cases of original jurisdiction, cases heard by the Supreme Court must first go though the state and federal courts. Only 1% of petitions for certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to review a lower court case decision, will be selected by t...
Rule of Nine: Federal Court System, The
In addition to the Supreme Court, there are more than 90 district courts in the federal court system, at least one in each state. Most cases end with the district court's decision, but if an appeal is filed, it goes to the appellate court, the next ...
Rule of Nine: Judiciary, a Legal and Political Institution, The
Every important political question eventually becomes a judicial question as evidenced by Bush v. Gore when the Supreme Court stopped the vote recount in Florida. There is the tendency to think that truth and justice are on one side, but typically t...
To End All Wars?: U. S. Society in Turmoil after World War I
In Post World War I America, the country plunges into recession once industries lose their government contracts. This results in union strikes and race riots where African Americans, Socialist, and unions are targeted. Lynching of African Americans ...