Description: The US Supreme Court can be a perplexing institution. Yet, as the third co-equal branch of national government its contribution to American politics needs to be appreciated as much as those of Congress and the presidency. Robert McKeever explains the legal and judicial frameworks within which the Supreme Court works and emphasizes the political forces which surround and influence it. He goes on to examine the ways in which the presidency, Congress and interest groups influence the judicial decision-making process and the extent to which the Justices are able to rise above the political fray. The chapter devoted to the "new" politics of Supreme Court appointments includes an analysis of the Court's contemporary agenda on issues such as abortion, affirmative action and gay rights. McKeever also discusses the roles played by the Supreme Court in American politics and government and the extent to which it differs as an institution with its legislative and executive counterparts.

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