US Supreme Court


	US Supreme Court
	Advantages Judicial review allows for checks and balances of the executive and legislature Separation of powers, fixed salaries and security of tenure mean that Supreme Court is independent Judicial neutrality ensured by appointment process Role in reinterpreting the constitution allows for adaptability and flexibility of the political system John Roberts sometimes acts as swing justice (NFIB v Sebelius 2012) The SC is limited by the constitution, as all decisions must be in accordance to this	Disadvantages Unelected Supreme Court has ability to overrule the elected bodies e.g. Citizens United v FEC (2010) President nominating justice and partisanship during the Senate hearings politicise the appointment process President nominates people with similar ideological leanings Can lead to judicial activism, which it may be argued undermines judicial neutrality and should not be allowed by an unelected body e.g. Obergefell v Hodges (2015) Role of media in appointment process politicises the process Current SC (2019) has more 'conservative' justices which may lead to ideological imbalance (Georgia 'heartbeat bill' may make its way to SC in order to overturn Roe v Wade (1974))
	Evaluation

Judicial review allows for checks and balances of the executive and legislature
Separation of powers, fixed salaries and security of tenure mean that Supreme Court is independent
Judicial neutrality ensured by appointment process
Role in reinterpreting the constitution allows for adaptability and flexibility of the political system
John Roberts sometimes acts as swing justice (NFIB v Sebelius 2012)
The SC is limited by the constitution, as all decisions must be in accordance to this

Unelected Supreme Court has ability to overrule the elected bodies e.g. Citizens United v FEC (2010)
President nominating justice and partisanship during the Senate hearings politicise the appointment process
President nominates people with similar ideological leanings
Can lead to judicial activism, which it may be argued undermines judicial neutrality and should not be allowed by an unelected body e.g. Obergefell v Hodges (2015)
Role of media in appointment process politicises the process
Current SC (2019) has more 'conservative' justices which may lead to ideological imbalance (Georgia 'heartbeat bill' may make its way to SC in order to overturn Roe v Wade (1974))

Get Revising