Bell Ringers

Bell Ringer: Judicial Interpretation and Political Ideology

Judicial Interpretation and a Politicized Judiciary

Author James Zirin discusses partisan politics, Supreme Court justices, and judicial interpretation.

Description

Author James Zirin discusses partisan politics, Supreme Court justices, and judicial interpretation.

Bell Ringer Assignment

  • Explain the meaning of a 'politicized court' as discussed by James Zirin.
  • How did Justice Scalia view the interpretation of the Constitution? Explain how this relates to the example that is presented by James Zirin.
  • Explain the distinction between originalism and the idea of living constitution as it relates to the 'evolving standards of decency' that James Zirin discusses.

Additional Resources

Participants

Vocabulary

  • 5th Amendment
  • Doctrine
  • Due Process
  • Ideology
  • Originalism
  • Politicize
  • Textualism
  • Tyrannical

Topics

Judicial Branch

Grades

High SchoolUniversity