Worksheet # 48 Home Questions
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THE JUDICIAL BRANCH: THE SUPREME COURT
Now to continue the tour, and so make it official,
We have branch number three, the one called judicial.
Our nationÕs top court, it is titled Supreme
And interprets our laws (what they do and donÕt mean).
Like a ref or umpire, who must say whatÕs in-bounds,
They know all the rules and give thumbs up or thumbs
down.
But itÕs no walk in the park, no gimme or cinch:
It takes years of learning to sit on that bench.
Whose nine women and men are chosen for life
So their judgments are free from political strife.
As theyÕve no fear theyÕll be fired or forced to one
side
By powerful people when they need to decide.
Of course, they can be impeached for committing a crime,
Or else be removed if they go mad for a time.
But true fairness, we hope, will escort their thoughts
When cases are heard and judgments are brought.
(Yes, the sight of a judge, one must really confess,
Is a sure-fire laugh when itÕs a man in a dress.
But if their black robes donÕt fit or match with their
shoes:
ItÕs best not to giggle, if youÕve something to lose!)
And Justice John Marshall, when named to this court,
Set forth its key role, in a most famous report.
When he ruled in the case Marbury v. Madison
That a law newly made they needed to jettison!
And folks did agree that the laws should be checked
To make sure The Constitution they do always respect.
So our courts ever since have this job to do:
To check the rightness of acts through judicial
review.
Which means any odd laws which do run afoul
Are crossed off the books as un-constitutional.
And thus keeping alert to any mis-use of might,
Branch three of our group holds the others in sightÉ