Synopses & Reviews
This is an account of recent efforts of Congress to curb the powers of the Supreme Court and an analysis of the reasons why these attempts failed. Professor Pritchett points out that controversy has arisen between Congress and the Court during many periods of American history, the most recent period of difficulty tracing back to the Courts school segregation decisions in 1954. When the Court took a liberal line in certain national security cases in 1956 and 1957, an organized effort was made in Congress to attack the Court. By a variety of devices, including direct attempts to limit the Courts powers of judicial review, a coalition of forces in Congress sought to curb the Court. Professor Pritchett analyzes the specific decisions which aroused congressional concern and reviews the methods by which the reversal of the decisions was sought. The review and analysis provide an interesting insight into the nature of judicial power and the role of the Supreme Court. The author shows that while the Court in any controversy with Congress is protected by the deeply rooted popular belief in judicial independence, and while the recent Congressional efforts were defeated, the experience resulted in the Courts curbing itself by withdrawing from some of its positions which had aroused Congress.
Synopsis
Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible to scholars, students, researchers, and general readers. Rich with historical and cultural value, these works are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions. The books offered through Minnesota Archive Editions are produced in limited quantities according to customer demand and are available through select distribution partners.
Synopsis
Congress Versus the Supreme Court, 1957-1960 was first published in 1961. Minnesota Archive Editions uses digital technology to make long-unavailable books once again accessible, and are published unaltered from the original University of Minnesota Press editions.
This is an account of the effort made in the last two sessions of Congress to curb the Supreme Court because of certain liberal decisions of the Court, and an analysis of the reasons for the congressional failure. Many times in history Congress has objected to Court decisions and has tried to retaliate against the Court. The most recent period of difficulty traces back to the Court's school segregation decisions in 1954, but not until the Court took a liberal line in certain national security cases in 1956 and 1957 was an organized effort made in Congress to attack it. Professor Pritchett analyzes the specific decisions which aroused congressional concern and reviews the methods by which their reversal was sought. The failure of this effort to curb the Court is important to an understanding of the role of the Supreme Court in the American governmental system. This book is an expansion of the Guy Stanton Ford lectures given by Mr. Pritchett at the University of Minnesota.