3
STATES SELECTION METHODS PAPER
The States Selection Methods Paper
Name
Institution
Each U.S state has its method for selecting state court judges. Take a look at the map on page 2 of your issues and controversial article. Which method does Texas use to select its state Supreme Court judges? Do you participate in this selection system?
Texas elects the Supreme Court judges. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the people of Texas to participate actively in partisan elections to elect them, and so, I actively participate in this selection system.
Fully explain one advantage and one disadvantage of having Texas use this selection method rather than using another method of selection.
One advantage of the Texas selection method, whereby the people elect the judges, is that it reinforces the idea of local control since the judges are elected at the local level and it also makes the judges accountable to the people. On the other hand, one disadvantage of using this system is that it may politicize the office and allow out-of-state groups and their money to get involved in the election.
Describe an alternative method for selecting judges. In other words, tell me about a different method used in another state and explain how this method would work.
The other method of selecting judges in other states is the appointing method whereby the president nominates the judges and later confirmed or vetted by the senates.
Fully explain what one advantage and one disadvantage would be of having Texas use this alternative selection method.
When judges are appointed, they make decisions they believe to be fair regardless of whether the voters agree with them or not since, they know that, their selections have nothing to do with the people. On the other hand, one of the disadvantages of appointing judges is that it limits the practice of democracy whereby the power is in the hands of the people.
If you had the power to choose which selection method Texas would use in the future, which selection method would choose and why?
Perhaps, if at all I had the power to choose the selection method for Texas, I would prefer the election method. This exercise enhances democracy and gives people the power to elect their preferable leaders depending on their grievances and manifestos.
Describe the consequences of your choice of the selection method. What is the result or outcome of your choice and taking the action you prefer for Texas? You should use a lot of what you have already learned from your previous responses to help build your answer to this question.
Adopting the election method of selection has some of the consequences, which include; leaders who are given the mandate to lead will try so hard to deliver to the people who elected since they know that they would see once again the people to elect them once more for another term. Moreover, this method will enhance democracy since the power lies within the people. Finally, this system will enable the leaders to be accountable to the people.