- Identify and explain the organization of the Judiciary
Judiciary branch is the branch with the Supreme courts that enforces law, maintains justice, regulates the government, and makes sure everyone is acting appropriately and constitutionally. It interprets the law
- Identify and provide examples of the powers of the Judiciary powers.
Judicial powers include declaring actions unconstitutional, examining and interpreting the law that Congress and the Executive Branch makes
- Identify and explain how Judiciary shares powers with the Congress, Executive, and bureaucracy.
The Judicial Branch works in bill and policy making with Congress and the Executive Branch, determining whether they are constitutional or not. It enforces the laws that the other branches makes as well.
- Discuss the implications of Judiciary sharing powers with each of the following: Congress, Executive, and bureaucracy.
Some judges may interpret things different from how their other branches would like them to and there may be conflict. Also, because they are meant to be impartial, they may act in a way that does not easily cooperate with the other branches depending on what is getting done. They have the power to stop certain policies from taking effect or being enforced
- Discuss the functions that Judiciary performs.
Firstly, when a dispute is brought before a court, it is the responsibility of the court to 'determine the facts' involved. The usual manner in which the courts determine the facts is through evidence given by the contestants. Once the facts have been established, the court proceeds to decide what law is applicable to a particular controversy or circumstance. Herein the judiciary becomes the interpreter of laws, which is the prime function of the judiciary. So the major task of the judiciary is to 'determine' the facts of laws and to apply them to particular circumstance.
- Identify how the power of the Judiciary has/may evolve gradually.
Some judges may interpret the law different as the time evolves. For example, as the civil acts movement passed, judges and the activist views changed and certain things may be overruled.
- Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and political parties.
Truthfully the judiciary isn't as influenced by political parties as other branches because of the lifetime appointments. However, as the President appoints certain people, they may be reflected by their political parties. For example, liberal judges may be more on the activist side and have more liberal rulings as others. It also influences the laws/interpretations they have.
- Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and interest groups.
Judiciary branches are not as influenced by interest groups. They may endorse those who will rule in their favor and try to persuade judges but not much else. Also, interest groups will provide some information for the judges in more specific cases to help them in their rulings. They act as the informant for the research part of policy making to see whether the policies really are constitutional.
- Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and media.
The judiciary branch isn't as open to the media the same way as the other branches, as they must remain impartial. Media conveys that laws that must be enacted and enforced. However, judges have certain appointments so they cannot easily be as swayed by the public and media.
- Identify and discuss the ties between the Judiciary and state and local governments.
Judiciary branch is in state and local governments as well. There are state courts and local courts that cover regular local laws and small infringements, and if it can't be resolved then it goes to higher courts but it had to be agreed by four judges to be looked at.