Question

1) Describe the process for a Supreme Court Justice being selected to serve on the court. What are the constitutional requirements? Do you think the process does a good job ensuring that the best candidates are confirmed for the Court? Explain your answer.

2) Describe the electoral college. How does it work? How might it violate the principle of one person-one vote? Do you think the electoral college should be changed or kept the same? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

1) Describe the process for a Supreme Court Justice being selected to serve on the court.

Like other federal judges, each Supreme Court justice must be nominated by the U.S. president, confirmed by a majority vote of the U.S. Senate, and officially sworn into office. However, unlike other federal judgeships, this nomination process is often contentious and well-publicized.

What are the constitutional requirements?

There are no explicit requirements in the U.S. Constitution for a person to be nominated to become a Supreme Court justice. No age, education, job experience, or citizenship rules exist. In fact, according to the Constitution, a Supreme Court justice does not need to even have a law degree.

Do you think the process does a good job ensuring that the best candidates are confirmed for the Court? Explain your answer.

Yes, the process is good because the reason why there are no specific qualifications is that a Supreme Court justice will always have to be confirmed by the Senate before he or she can be appointed. This provides a check on people getting the job if they are somehow dangerous or unqualified. So, a wrong person cannot be selected. This gives equal opportunity to everyone, even a philosopher who has a moral sense can become Justice in Supreme Court provided he is selected by the Senate.