1. Chapter 14: The Judiciary
A More Perfect Union 1/e

2. The Judiciary
• The Origins of the U.S. Judiciary
– The Constitution and the Judiciary Act of
1789: Establishing the Supreme Court and
the Federal District Courts
– Marbury v. Madison and the Principle of
Judicial Review
– The Judiciary Act of 1891: Expanding the
Federal Courts
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3. The Judiciary
• The Basis of U.S. Law
– The Language of U.S. Law
– Common Law
• Historical Basis of Common Law
• The Principle of Stare Decisis
– Code Law
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4. The Judiciary
• Sources of U.S. Law
– The Federal and State Constitutions
– Statutes
– Judicial Decisions
– Executive Orders
– Administrative Law
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5. The Judiciary
• The Federal Court System
– Jurisdiction of Federal Courts
– The Structure of Federal Courts
• Federal District Courts
• U.S. Courts of Appeals
• Special Courts
• The U.S. Supreme Court within the Federal
System
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8. The Judiciary
• Selecting Judges for the Federal Bench
– The Senate’s Role in Appointment and
Confirmation
– Judicial Competence
– Ideology and Selection to the Bench
– Representation of Demographic Groups
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9. The Judiciary
• The U.S. Supreme Court Today
– The Supreme Court’s Jurisdiction
– Choosing Cases for Review
– On the Docket: Considering the Case
– Meeting in Conference: The Deliberative Stage
– Deciding How to Vote: Voting Blocs on the
Court
– Writing the Opinion
– The Supreme Court Today: The Roberts Court
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12. The Judiciary
• Judges as Policy Makers
– Activism Versus Restraint
– Competing Legal Interpretations
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14. The Judiciary
• Checks on U.S. Courts
– The Inner Ring: Legislatures and Chief
Executives
– The Gatekeepers: Participants in the Judicial
Process
• Law Enforcers’ Checks on the Judiciary
• Interest Groups’ Checks on the Judiciary
– Intra-Court Constraints
– The Outer Ring: The Users
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16. Chapter Six
Pursuit of Justice

17. Exhibit 6-1 Justice
Source: Photo copyright © Michael Newman/Photo Edit Inc.

18. Civil Cases Filed in California
Exhibit 6-2
Superior Courts 2004 (1.5 million cases)

19. Exhibit 6-3 The Criminal Justice System
Source: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics

20. Exhibit 6-4 California Crime Index
Source: Office of the California Attorney General

21. Criminal Cases Filed in California
Exhibit 6-5
Superior Courts 2004-2005 (7.4 million cases)

22. California Crime, Arrests,
Exhibit 6-6
Convictions, & Incarcerations Indexed to 1980