The United States Supreme Court is the highest court that interprets laws and ensures they align with the Constitution. The power to interpret laws was not given but taken by the court, which has made it supremely important constitutionally and politically. The Supreme Court justices serve for life, making them politically beholden to no one. This makes them the final arbiters of the law.
The process of appointing a new justice to the Supreme Court is a complex and politically charged one. The President nominates a candidate, and the Senate must approve the nominee. The Senate, which has two senators per state, is the only body that can approve the nominee. The nominee goes through a rigorous process of interviews and investigations by the Judiciary Committee. If the Senate approves, the nominee becomes a justice. If not, the President must nominate a new candidate.
There are also recess appointments, where the President can appoint a justice to a vacant seat while the Senate is on recess. However, this practice is controversial and has been challenged in the Supreme Court.
The process of impeachment is another potential nuclear option, although it has never been used against a Supreme Court justice.
The Constitution also allows the President to force the Congress back to the capital for emergency business, and then forcibly dismiss them. This could potentially be used to make recess appointments, but it would have significant political and constitutional implications.
In conclusion, the process of appointing a justice to the Supreme Court is a complex and politically charged process, with many potential nuclear options available.
1. The Supreme Court in the United States is the highest court with the final say on what laws really mean and if they're in line with the constitution.
2. The power of the Supreme Court to interpret laws was not given but taken.
3. The Supreme Court's role is supremely important constitutionally and politically.
4. The nine court justices both referee and adjust the laws.
5. Each justice serves for life, making it difficult to influence them for political advantage.
6. Appointing a new justice is an irreversible decision that will affect decades of law.
7. A new justice is only appointed when a seat opens, either when a justice resigns or dies.
8. The president, who has absolute power to select a nominee, starts the process of filling the seat.
9. The nominee must be approved by the Senate, specifically the upper house with its two senators per state.
10. The Judiciary Committee conducts a thorough investigation of the nominee.
11. The FBI investigates everything private about the nominee's life.
12. The Senate votes on the nominee, and if approved, the nominee becomes a justice.
13. The president can nominate as soon as a seat opens, but there's no timeline for when the Senate has to vote on the nominee.
14. The Senate can work together very quickly to appoint a new justice.
15. The Senate doesn't work all year round, often taking seasonal recesses.
16. If a Supreme Court seat opens while the Senate is on recess, the president can instantly appoint someone straight into the court.
17. The Senate doesn't like recess appointments, even though the appointed recess justice is temporary.
18. Recess appointments aren't just for the Supreme Court but for all sorts of government jobs.
19. The Constitution allows the president to temporarily fill vital positions for a minimum length of time, even when the Senate isn't around.
20. The Senate will get to say later when they're back to work.
21. The Constitution allows the president to force the Congress back to the capital and then forcibly dismiss them when done.
22. The president can force a long recess and make recess appointments till their heart's content.
23. The Supreme Court has the final say in the event of nuclear shenanigans.
24. The Supreme Court will instantly get involved to make the final call if any possible nuclear shenanigans are triggered.
25. The current possible process is straightforward: the Senate never goes on recess officially, so when a seat opens, the president picks a nominee and half or more of the Senate must confirm that nominee to the highest court of the land.