State and Federal Courts

Christopher P. Banks, JD, PhD, is professor of political science at Kent State University.

Providing a succinct, timely overview of the complex U.S. judicial system and its impact on politics and society, this work will appeal to students and public library patrons in need of basic federal and state court information.

• IntroductionChapter One: History of the Judiciary: Federal and StateChapter Two: Roles, Functions, and PowersChapter Three: Structure and ProcessChapter Four: Political Issues and Controversies of the Judicial BranchI. Constitutional Politics and Democratic PrinciplesJudicial ReviewConstitutional InterpretationJudicial Activism and RestraintJudicial FederalismState Ballot Initiatives and ReferendumsII. Judicial Access, Independence, and AccountabilityPublic Access to CourtsCameras in the CourtroomJudicial SpecializationAdverseness and Advisory OpinionsJurisdictional Doctrines and ProceduresJudicial IndependenceCourt CurbingPolitical Restraints on Judicial PowerIII. The Politics of Judicial Selection and RemovalState CourtsMerit PlansPartisan Judicial Elections and Political MoneyJudicial Campaigns and the First AmendmentJudicial RecusalFederal CourtsPresidential Appointments and Court PackingThe Role of the American Bar AssociationFilibusters of Presidential Nominations to the Federal BenchBlue SlipsSupreme Court HearingsImpeachment and Removal of Federal JudgesIV. Political Controversies in State and Federal CourtsIncorporation DoctrineSame-Sex MarriageThe Affordable Care ActFreedom of SpeechCampaign FinanceReligious FreedomGun Ownership Rights and RestrictionsProperty RightsDefendants' RightsMandatory SentencingCapital PunishmentPrivacy RightsAbortion RestrictionsRacial DiscriminationAffirmative ActionGerrymanderingVoting RightsGlossary of Concepts, Laws, and PeopleAnnotated BibliographyAbout the Editor and ContributorsIndex