Evaluate ways in which the federal courts’ mandate to interpret law sometime places them into conflict with Congress.

Congress and the Courts/Congress and Organized Interests

In this module we will discuss the ways in which Congress interacts with the federal courts, as well as how the institution of Congress mediates among the many organized interests in American society.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, students will be able to:

Explain the role of the Senate in its advice and consent mandate for nominees of the federal courts.

Evaluate ways in which the federal courts’ mandate to interpret law sometime places them into conflict with Congress.

Describe ways in which Congress can express its displeasure with the courts in general or individual judges and justices.

Analyze the various means by which interest groups interact with Congress and evaluate which means work best under certain situations.

Describe the various legal reforms Congress has passed regarding the lobbyists.