FEMALE SPEAKER: the Senate Smack Down Is About to Begin

Chapter 8 – Section 2 1 How Federal Courts are Organized FEMALE SPEAKER: The Senate smack down is about to begin. It’s a grudge match between Democrats and Republicans over the most valued commodity in Washington, power. The issue at hand is who controls the federal courts, is the president entitled to appoint any qualified judge he chooses. MALE SPEAKER: The role of the president is to appoint qualified individuals to the bench. The role of the Senate is to provide their advice and consent. It’s not to provide, advice, and block. FEMALE SPEAKER: Democrats say their role is to provide checks and balances and their minority should have a way to block nominees they consider unfit. The tool they want to use is the filibuster which allows them to stop any nomination that can’t get sixty votes. MALE SPEAKER: The filibuster is the last check we have against the abusive power in Washington. FEMALE SPEAKER: Republicans say the founding fathers intended filibusters to be used for legislation, but for judicial nominees, no way. MALE SPEAKER: Confirm or reject, yes or no, up or down, it’s a simple principle. FEMALE SPEAKER: Enter Texas Supreme Court Justice Priscilla Owen and California Supreme Court Justice Janice Rogers Brown. The two Bush nominees for federal appeals court have become the test cases in this debate. Republicans point out that both women have been elected by overwhelming state majorities and that both are qualified conservatives who oppose abortion rights. Democrats argue these judges are both out of the mainstream, Republicans disagree. MALE SPEAKER: Are they really out of the mainstream, or is this really just politics? FEMALE SPEAKER: This fight is just leading up to the real battle over Supreme Court nominations which could come as early as this summer, and Republicans would sure like to get an up or down vote on those nominees.

Content Provided by BBC Motion Gallery 1