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Influences on Judicial Power Essay

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Influences on Judicial Power

Under Article III of the Constitution the judicial branch was established, but rather implicit in proportion to the other two branches of government. This ambiguity allocates various opportunities for interpretation of judicial power. In Federalist 78, Alexander Hamilton addresses the role of the judiciary branch within the federal government in regards to political immunity of judges through life tenure and contribution to checks and balances through power or judicial review. Chief Justice John Marshall, in his ruling of Marbury v. Madison, established the principle of judicial review advocated by Hamilton in the Federalist Papers. Originally designated as the weakest of the three branches in …show more content…

It is able to check the executive and legislative branch by declaring their actions unconstitutional and therefore null.

The Constitution provides judges with life tenure in order to protect the judicial branch from political pressures imposed by the public or the other branches of government. In Federalist 78, Hamilton states that the “independence of judges is equally requisite to guard the constitution and the rights of individuals” (Woll, 409). Unlimited terms of judges enable them to articulate impartial judgments despite popular politics. They are not at risk of losing their political position when ruling against the desires of powerful institutions. Immunity to political influence allocates court jurisdictions that are in the interest of justice and equality. The alternative of “periodical appointments, however regulated, or by whomsoever made, would, in some way or other, be fatal to their necessary independence. If the power of making them was committed either to the executive or legislature, there would be danger of an improper compliance to the branch with possessed it” (Woll, 412). Limiting the term of judges would motivate their loyalty to the agency responsible for appointments in order to ensure future succession. Hamilton argues that the judicial branch is in

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