American Government A Critique of The Supreme Court
Uploaded by spootyhead on Apr 18, 2007
American Government: A Critique of The Supreme Court
The American Supreme Court is a well-rounded look at the creation and nature of the Supreme Court. The author , Robert G. McCloskey, starts off with a look at how people felt about the Court when it was created, giving the reader a feel for the time. It continues on to explain the importance of the creation event using specific details. By making the reader feel proud of being a part of such a great system, the reader is drawn into the book and grows anxious to read on.
As the reader goes on information is given about what kind of power was intended for the Supreme Court and a debate is formulated about whether the Court is Constitutionally just. The point is made that the Constitution gives Congress the power to create any court system it feels necessary but the question is asked, does the constitution guarantee the Supreme Court’s has final authority. Many of the Forefathers seem to have created the Court in the hope that it would keep the other branches of the government in check according to the Constitution.
As the first section goes on, explaining the nature of the Supreme court’s power, and telling of the checks and balances that keep the court from gaining more power than is necessary, by only allowing the court to rule on an issue if it is presented in the form of a case. It points out that the power given is that of a court’s power as well as something more. A number of facts are debated, such as whether or not the court should play a large part in directing the states. The overall nature of the courts power is covered and presented in a form, which is at times confusing and roundabout, but always backed up by reasoning and examples that justify the court’s power or lack thereof.
The next section goes on to tell of how the power of the Court was viewed by the people in the beginning of the courts’ history and how the court itself did not allow itself a great deal of power. The Court went as far as to turn power that it felt was unconstitutional down. While the public did not always see a reason for the...