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The president appoints Supreme Court justices and the Senate must approve of these appointees. Which of the following principles does this best exemplify?

1) Checks and balances
2) Separation of powers
3) Federalism
4) Judicial review

User Farina
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Final answer:

The requirement that the president's nominees for the Supreme Court must be approved by the Senate exemplifies the checks and balances system. It is a way to ensure that no single branch has unchecked power over the judiciary. This reflects the Constitution's intent, as described in Article II, Section 2, which specifies this shared responsibility between branches.

Step-by-step explanation:

The principle that the president appoints Supreme Court justices and the Senate must approve these appointees best exemplifies checks and balances. This system ensures that no single branch of the government can control the judiciary without the approval of another branch, which in this case, is the legislative branch. Specifically, according to Article II, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the President "shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appoint... Judges of the Supreme Court".

This requirement for Senate approval for the appointment of justices and federal judges is just one check that the legislative branch has over the courts. Others include the ability of Congress to rewrite a law the courts have declared unconstitutional, and the power to withhold funding needed to implement court decisions. Moreover, the president can exert influence on the courts by nominating judges who are likely to support their policies, as these appointments are for life, leading to a lasting impact on the judiciary.

User BobbyDazzler
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