Analyzing the Executive Authority of Judicial Appointment

PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENTS TO THE FEDERAL JUDICIARY BY SELECTED

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS, 2000–2011 (in percent)

African American
Obama 22%/Bush 7%

Hispanic
Obama 11%/Bush 9%

Asian American 
Obama 8%/Bush 1%

White
Obama 59%/Bush 82%

Women
Obama 46%/Bush 22%

Men
Obama 54%/Bush 78%


1. Presidents consider many factors when nominating candidates to the federal courts, and getting their nominees confirmed is often difficult.

(a) Using the statistics above, describe ONE similarity between President Barack Obama’s judicial appointments and those made by President George W. Bush.

(b) Using the statistics above, describe TWO differences between President Barack Obama’s judicial appointments and those made by President George W. Bush.


2. Consider the following profiles of Supreme Court Justices' R. Ginsberg and Sonia Sotomayor to understand their ideological similarities to President Obama.
http://www.newrepublic.com/article/117501/sonia-sotomayor-schuette-dissent-national-treasure

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/119578/ruth-bader-ginsburg-interview-retirement-feminists-jazzercise 

While reading:
What political opinions do these justices' express?
What is so important about Sotomayor's dissent language?
Is it written in accessible style rather than the wooden prose of the legal world?
Do these opinions reflect similarities to Mr. Obama's political views?

(c) Explain why a president’s party affiliation accounts for differences in presidential appointments to the
judiciary.

(d) Describe one way a president can increase the chances of having judicial nominations to federal courts
confirmed.

The Executive Branch: Foreign Policy Agenda and Nominations

Mr. Obama recently accepted the resignation of Chuck Hagel, a former Republican Senator, as Secretary of Defense. This represents a trend of the Executive Branch affording national security positions to Washington insiders with relatively little foreign policy experience. However, under the Obama Administration, the White House is forced to nominate only those individuals that have a chance to circumvent the Republican controlled Congress. It is the new Defense Sec. nominee, Mr. Asher who stands a reasonable chance due to his lengthy career in the nation's national security apparatus and his non-partisan nature.

Respond to the following questions in your notebook. (DO NOT WRITE THE QUESTION)
http://foreignpolicy.com/2014/12/04/ash-carter-vs-barack-obamas-yogi-berra-foreign-policy-secretary-of-defense/ 

Who is Ash Carter?

What is his original trade?

How will this allow him to better serve the Defense Department as opposed to politicians like Chuck Hagel?

What 4 reasons does author  David Rothkopf cite as potential areas of difficulty for the incoming Defense Secretary?

How large is the current National Security Staff currently?

Why is this a problem, according to Mr. Rothkopf?

What is the purpose of the National Intelligence Council?

How has it deviated from its main goals?

What is the National Security Act of 1947?

What is the second NSC?

What is the general critique Mr. Rothkopf has of the current White House Staff (Ben Rhodes and Valerie J.)?

What is the key issue for the incoming Secretary of Defense?

What is the author’s view on the White House notion that Iran is an ally in the fight against ISIS?

In the author’s final paragraph, what is his view of the American national security apparatus?

FRQ/Essay Prompts for Monday Exam

Free Response Question
What role do entitlements play in the rise of the large budget deficits? Should these be controlled? If so, how?   (Pg. 452-453)


List and describe, briefly, the various actors who influence the budgetary process. In total, are the interests of democratic government served? By whom and in what ways? (Pg. 453-455)


Explain the various reforms instituted to improve the budgetary process. Describe key reforms that have been made, and then assess their success in limiting the size of the federal deficits. (pg. 456-459)



Essay
Briefly describe how the rise of the social service state and the rise of the national security state have increase the scope of government. Were these necessary developments? Explain. ( pg. 445-450)

Identify and evaluate the causes of and effects of increased government spending or "big government."  (pg.445-453)

6th 6 Weeks Exam 1 Content Topics

6th 6 Weeks Exam 1 Content Topics: Congress, the Executive and the Politics of Budget

• New Republic Commentary on 2014 Congressional Budget Proposal (Questions and article posted at site on 12.1.14)
• Obama Executive Order Immigration (Questions and article posted at course site on 11.19.14)
• 2014 Mid-Term Election Appraisal (Questions and article posted at course site on 11.18.14.)
• National Security Costs       (Article residing in this post below) 

         http://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/the_true_cost_of_national_secu.php?page=all 

• Ch. 14 of text book and ALL Key Terms: Free Response Question and Essay Topic to be determined by Thursday

New Republic commentary on 2014 fiscal budget

http://www.newrepublic.com/article/120420/tax-extender-deal-handout-big-business 




1. Who does Mr. Vinik the new Congressional budget proposal will hurt?

2. What are "tax extenders" and who do they benefit?

3. How much will the deficit increase under this budget? 

4. In comparison, how much revenue did the Fiscal Cliff generate? 

5. How many millions in cuts to food stamps were Republicans seeking previously in this deal?

6. What is the one of the only tax breaks the deal will not extend to?

7.  How will this new deal effect the Child Tax credit?

Obama Executive Order Immigration

Utilize the article below to comprise a paragraph addressing the following questions:
What is the nature of Pres. Obama's executive order addressing immigration?
Should undocumented migrants have access to ObamaCare?
Is Obama's executive order to overhaul immigration executive over-reach?

If link can't be copied, simply google search the following: ny times obamacare unlikely for immigrants .
Authors of the article are: MICHAEL D. SHEAR and ROBERT PEAR




http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/us/politics/obamacare-unlikely-for-undocumented-immigrants.html?rref=politics&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=Politics&pgtype=article

2014 Mid-Term Election Appraisal (U.S. Congress)

Article Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/23/upshot/why-senate-control-matters.html?abt=0002&abg=1 

How many Red states were needed for the Democrats to maintain control of the US Senate?

In which states were the Democrats needing to block Republican victories in the 2014 Mid term elections?

What major issues are the two parties divided on?

Failing to pass major climate legislation, due to gridlock in both the House and Senate, how has Mr. Obama expected to address climate change?

What has been target of the executive actions?

How does Mr. McConell aim to combat Mr. Obama's premise that he will veto any legislation that aims to defund his policies?

Has public opinion sided with the Republicans when they decide to hold no votes on budget proposals and allow the government to shut down?

As the last two previous presidents did, will Mr. Obama be able to place plenty of federal judges on the bench in his final two years in the executive office?

What percentage among Mr. Obama’s nominees to District Courts have failed to be confirmed?

How have Democrats overcome this tactic of Republican blockage of judicial nominees?

In what areas do the federal courts have major influence?

How long is a United States senate term?

What two projections does David Leonhardt make concerning the potentiality of a Republican and Democratic president?

Respond in a paragraph:

Which party or individual do you view as responsible for American political grid-lock? Did yesterday’s film seem to blame any one individual or party for the shortcomings of the US Congress?