Watch the videos below and answer the questions that follow.
At the time Sonia Sotomayor was set to take her seat on the Supreme Court, C-SPAN asked current and former justices of the Supreme Court how new appointments change the Supreme Court.
Excerpts from C-SPAN's Interviews with Supreme Court Justices
C-SPAN
September 3, 2009
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| 1a. In what ways does a new appointment change the Supreme Court, according to the justices themselves? In what other ways do you think a new appointment changes the Supreme Court?
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| 1b. What aspects of Supreme Court procedures or ceremony were discussed in this video and also mentioned in your textbook?
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2. Political action committees, issue advocates, and their causes are greatly impacted by the decisions handed down by the federal court system. One group, The People For the American Way, has produced a number of ads over the years that highlight the groups’ concerns about Supreme Court appointees.
Robert Bork TV Ad
The People For the American Way
1987
The End of Choice?
The People For the American Way
2008
What concerns about Supreme Court appointments were expressed in the above videos? What agenda does The People for the American Way promote in these two videos? Do you feel these videos were effective in communicating this agenda? Why or why not?
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The following commericial, sponsored by the National Rifle Association (NRA), is also an example of interest-group advertisement concerning Supreme Court nominations.
NRA Ad Opposing Elena Kagan's Confirmation as Associate Justice on U.S. Supreme Court
National Rifle Association
July 8, 2010
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| 3a. What concerns does the NRA have about Obama’s nomination of Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court? Why?
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| 3b. What position on the usefulness of Senate hearings on Supreme Court nominees does this advertisement take? Do you agree or disagree? Why?
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The Colbert Report, hosted by Stephen Colbert, is a parody of personality-driven political opinion shows such as those found on the cable news networks, wherein Colbert hosts the show in character as a right-wing pundit.
In the following video, Stephen Colbert discusses the proposal raised by Arlen Specter to televise Supreme Court sessions.
The Word Must-Not-See TV
The Colbert Report
Comedy Central
First aired October 4, 2006
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| 4a. While this is a satirical discussion of the decision, the above video introduces important issues related to the right to privacy and the efficacy of "closed-door" Supreme Court deliberations. Do you feel that Supreme Court sessions should be televised for public viewing? Would this infringe the right to privacy of the Justices? Why or why not? Frame your answer in terms of the discussion of the federal courts in your textbook.
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| 4b. Do you think any or all court proceedings should be televised? Why or why not? If so, which ones? What about televising or recording jury deliberations?
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