Political Developments: The Supreme Court on the New Deal Flashcards
(26 cards)
How many federal laws were ruled unconstitutional from 1795 to 1934?
60 federal laws
Between 1935 and 1936, how many federal laws were ruled unconstitutional?
10 federal laws
Name 2 alphabet agencies found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
NRA, AAA
What case led to the NRA being ruled as unconstitutional?
The sick chicken case
What year was the NRA ruled unconstitutional?
1935
What did the NRA impose on businesses for them to follow?
Codes of practice
What did one butcher firm try to sell?
Tried to sell chickens that were unfit for human consumption
How did the NRA respond to the butcher firm trying to sell poor quality chickens?
They prosecuted them for violating the codes of practice
What did the firm decide with the NRA after the sick chicken case?
If one part of the NRA was unconstitutional, it was likely the whole alphabet agency was unconstitutional
What was the AAA?
Agricultural Adjustment Administration
What did the AAA do?
It gave money to farmers to stop them from farming parts of their land
How did the AAA get money to pay farmers not to farm parts of their land?
They taxed other businesses
Why did the Supreme Court rule the AAA as unconstitutional?
They were imposing unnecessary taxes on businesses
What year was the NRA ruled unconstitutional?
1935
What did FDR not talk about during his 1936 election campaign?
That he would change the structure of the Supreme Court
What act did FDR make to propose making reforms to the Supreme Court?
Judiciary Reform Act
What year did FDR propose the Judiciary Reform Act?
1937
How many Senators voted in favor and out of favour of the 1937 Judiciary Reform Act?
20 voted in favor, 70 voted out of favor
What was shown to be working properly by the Senate preventing FDR from getting more power?
Checks and balances
What did the 1937 Judiciary Reform Act suggest?
For every Supreme Court judge over 70, another Supreme Court Judge would be employed
Why did FDR want to change the structure of the Supreme Court?
To make the Supreme Court more in favour of New Deal Policies
What was FDR’s attempt to fill the court with people who would be in favour of him called?
Court packing
Why was it not an issue for Franklin Roosevelt that the bill did not pass?
All of the older judges retired or died
What was the period of time most Supreme Court Judges had been born in?
1850s-1860s
