Assignment

Partisan considerations have increasingly influenced the selection of federal judges. Interest groups on the right and the left have insisted on the appointment of judges who hold compatible views. Presidents and members of Congress have also increasingly sought appointees who will decide issues in ways they prefer. What is your view? Should politics play such a large role in judicial appointments? Or should merit be given greater weight? Does a merit based system favor ONLY those with money and the connections?

Question 1

In 1800, the federal bureaucracy was relatively small with only a few thousand employees. Describe how the bureaucracy grew from a few thousand employees to the size it is today. Also, discuss how the bureaucracy is organized and how government employees are hired.

Question 2

Explain the structure of the federal judicial system. What are the responsibilities of each part of the system?

Question 3

How does the federal bureaucracy implement policy within the federal government? Give a specific example. Where does the bureaucracy get its power?

Question 4

What legal and political influences can affect the decisions of judges? How does the judiciary play a part in policymaking?