Political Stake In The Federal Courts

Name: Instructor: Course: Date: Political Stake in the Federal Courts Many people believe that the federal courts in the USA are independent with the Supreme Court at the top of the judicial system. The Supreme Court is independent since its members are appointed instead of undergoing the electoral process. However, some external influence happens in the court systems to influence decisions on cases that many viewers perceive political and deals with the matters that concern the ordinary American citizens. The Federal Courts have impacts on the law passed by the Congress as well as the decisions of the presidents whenever a challenge arises as well as interpreting the fundamental rights. A major political influence in the federal courts is the presidential appointments. The Presidents of the USA have been appointing of the Supreme conservative justices with the majority of the justices prevail in essential cases on a 5-4 voting system in favor of conservatives. Also, the President appoints the judges, but the Senate approves the appointments. Therefore, the judicial system in the USA is undemocratic as the members of Supreme Court are not elected and serve a "lifetime during good behavior" hence insulated from the pressure emanating from the public (Dahl 137). Furthermore, the Supreme Court powers are the judicial reviews on usurpation in legislative matters that invalidate the constitution. Besides, such considerations apply to actions of the president and state actions. However, the activism and ideology can influence the decisions of the Supreme Court irrespective of its independence (Dahl 137). Therefore, it can be assumed that politics have some influence in court decisions especially on voting. Just like in the monarchical system, the courts in America settle the dispute using the relevant facts principle as outlined in the Constitution and the law. The principal court cases usually proceed under Civil Law and Criminal laws. The criminal law usually solve disputes entailing criminal penalties hence the law helps in the regulation of conducts of people, specifies punishments for the actions found illegal and defines crimes. In criminal acts, the government as the plaintiff charges people or defendants who violate the law that protect public health, moral, safety, and welfare (Levy 65). On the other hand, the civil law entails disputes among people as well as people, and the government and such cases do not carry criminal penalties. Under the civil laws, the losers usually pay for damages for their actions in monetary form. Judges preside on th...