Both nominees had supported segregation in the past
The Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice (judge) and eight associate justices. They are nominated by the president when vacancies occur, and the president's nominees are confirmed by the Senate. If a nominee is denied confirmation, the president must submit another until the position is filled. Once confirmed, Supreme Court justices have their positions for life, or until they resign or are removed from office through a process of impeachment.
Supreme Court nominees often evade questions related to ideology; how they would rule in hypothetical cases; state their opinion about controversial settled law; or indulge in conjecture that might unfairly effect their chance of confirmation.
President Obama was only in the Senate during the confirmation vote for President George W. Bush's conservative nominees in 2005 and 2006. Obama voted Nay for Chief Justice Roberts on September 29, 2005, and Nay for Justice Alito on January 31, 2006.Considering Roberts and Alito have completely different political ideologies from President Obama, this should come as no surprise.
The President checks the power of the Supreme Court by appointing Supreme Court justices and the Chief Justice (subject to Senate confirmation).
The President checks the power of the Supreme Court by appointing Supreme Court justices and the Chief Justice (subject to Senate confirmation).
The Senate has the power to reject a President's appointment of a cabinet member, but it does not happen frequently. Over the years, there have been occasional rejections, but it is more common for the Senate to confirm the President's nominees. Ultimately, the confirmation or rejection of cabinet appointments depends on the political dynamics and circumstances at the time.
The Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice (judge) and eight associate justices. They are nominated by the president when vacancies occur, and the president's nominees are confirmed by the Senate. If a nominee is denied confirmation, the president must submit another until the position is filled. Once confirmed, Supreme Court justices have their positions for life, or until they resign or are removed from office through a process of impeachment.
Excessively partisan, polarized, hostile, divisive and obstructionist.
The United States Constitution includes rigid separation of powers, simultaneously counteracted by a system of checks and balances. The American president as chief executive can influence courts through their selection of nominees based on political leanings. That being said this power in turn is checked and can be negated by the Senate's authority to deny confirmation of judicial nominees.
The president chooses people who seem to have the same approach to the constitution as he has. He can be fooled but justices tend to follow the general philosophy of the man who appointed them
The Legislative branch, specifically the Senate. The House of Representatives does not play a role in the selection or confirmation process.