2.9 | Role of the Judicial Branch

What is the principle of "stare decisis"?

• The idea that the Supreme Court should always overrule past decisions.

• The principle that the Court usually prefers to follow precedent.

• The requirement for judges to ignore past decisions.

• The concept that lower courts can set new precedents.

What is a precedent in the context of the judicial system?

• A new law passed by Congress.

• A past decision that influences future decisions by the Courts.

• A guideline for the executive branch.

• A rule that must be followed by the president.

What happens when a new Justice is appointed to the Supreme Court?

• The Court's ideological balance can change, potentially leading to past precedents being overturned.

• The president gains more power over the Court.

• The Senate loses its ability to confirm Justices.

• The Court's decisions become invalid.

Why might a president prefer to nominate younger Justices to the Supreme Court?

• Younger Justices are more likely to agree with the president's policies.

• Younger Justices can serve longer, thus having more influence over time.

• Younger Justices are easier to confirm by the Senate.

• Younger Justices are more experienced.

What is one reason a Justice might strategically retire?

• To ensure their successor shares their ideological views.

• To avoid impeachment.

• To increase their pension benefits.

• To run for political office.

What was the impact of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing on the Supreme Court?

• It led to a liberal majority on the Court.

• It allowed President Trump to appoint a conservative Justice, shifting the Court's balance.

• It resulted in the Court having an equal number of liberal and conservative Justices.

• It had no impact on the Court's ideological balance.

What is the role of precedent in guiding lower courts?

• Lower courts can ignore precedents set by the Supreme Court.

• Precedents are binding on lower courts, guiding their decisions.

• Lower courts can only follow precedents from their own state.

• Precedents are optional for lower courts to consider.

What argument does Justice Clarence Thomas make regarding precedent?

• The Court should never overturn past decisions.

• The Court should feel free to overturn past decisions if current Justices disagree with them.

• Precedents should be the only factor in deciding cases.

• The Court should only follow precedents from the 19th century.

What is one factor presidents consider when nominating a Supreme Court Justice?

• The nominee's ability to campaign for the president.

• The nominee's political ideology.

• The nominee's wealth.

• The nominee's popularity with the public.

What is the significance of the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority mentioned in the video?

• It ensures that all future decisions will be conservative.

• It has led to the overturning of some long-standing precedents.

• It prevents any new Justices from being appointed.

• It guarantees that liberal policies will be upheld.