Shifting the Balance of the Supreme Court

Since the vacancy on the Supreme Court isn't likely to be filled soon, the article's author wonders how the balance of the court may be affected if more left-of-center justices are added to the current bench ("What If the Supreme Court Were Liberal?" The Atlantic, April 6, 2016). Several current justices are advancing to potential retirement age soon, so consideration of a political shift looks at how it would affect such areas as abortion rights, affirmative action, death penalty, and gun control.

Review selected hard copy/online library books related to the U.S. Supreme Court at LSC-CyFair Branch Library. Click the title of a listed item, select the "Place Hold" button in the listing, and enter your library card number and PIN for each title you want to request for pick up at the library.

Use these subject words and phrases to find more information in the library catalog:

• Constitutional law United States
• Courts of last resort United States
• Judicial review United States
• Ruth Bader Ginsburg
• Sandra Day O'Connor
• Supreme Court United States

The Supreme Court by Lawrence Baum
Sage/CQ Press, 2016
call number: 347.732 Bau

"This book examines all major aspects of the highest court in the nation, from the selection of justices and agenda creation to the decision-making process and the Court's impact on government and U.S. society. . .This new edition gives particular attention to current developments such as the impact of political polarization on the Court, the justices' increasingly public roles, and recent rulings on same-sex marriage and health care." - publisher's summary excerpt

Sisters in Law: How Sandra Day O'Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg Went to the Supreme Court and Changed the World by Linda Hirshman
Harper, 2015
call number: 347.732 Hir

"Strengthened by each other's presence, these groundbreaking judges, the first and second women to serve on the highest court in the land, have transformed the Constitution and America itself, making it a more equal place for all women. Linda Hirshman's dual biography includes revealing stories of how these trailblazers fought for recognition in a male-dominated profession--battles that would ultimately benefit every American woman. Hirshman also makes clear how these two justices have shaped the legal framework of modern feminism, setting precedent in cases dealing with employment discrimination, abortion, affirmative action, sexual harassment, and many other issues crucial to women's lives." - publisher's summary excerpt

The Constitution: An Introduction by Michael Stokes Paulsen and Luke Paulsen
Basic, 2015
call number: 342.73 Pau

"Beginning with the Constitution's birth in 1787, Paulsen and Paulsen offer a grand tour of its provisions, principles, and interpretation, introducing readers to the characters and controversies that have shaped the Constitution in the 200-plus years since its creation. Along the way, the authors provide correctives to the shallow myths and partial truths that pervade so much popular treatment of the Constitution, from school textbooks to media accounts of today's controversies, and offer powerful insights into the Constitution's true meaning." - publisher's summary excerpt