Title: Influences on Judicial Power - Judicial Law Essays
Headings: Influences on Judicial Power
Influences on Judicial Power
Content: Possessing these powers along with being the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, the President is capable of leading the federal government through perils pertaining to the public. The Judiciary “has no influence over either the sword or the purse; no direction either of the strength or of the wealth of the society; and can take no active resolution whatever? It may truly be said to have neither FORCE NOR WILL, but merely judgment” (Woll, 410). The Judicial branch lacks the influential power possessed by Congress and the President in the federal government and is further limited by presidential appointment of justices and congressional decision to establish lower courts. The Supreme Courts’ ability to pass judgment, however, gives significant power to the branch and is essential in the system of checks and balances. The judicial branch is provided with the power to resolve conflicts emerging between federal and state laws as well as between citizens of different states, but more importantly the power to decide constitutionality of laws. 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.