The U.S. Supreme Court Building

 

America’s Founding Fathers wisely designed a system of government that separates powers among three branches so that no person or group controls too much power.  Under the Constitution, the Legislative Branch is charged with creating laws (Article I), the Executive Branch with executing the law (Article II), and the Judicial Branch with interpreting and applying the law (Article III).

 

Over time, the courts have generally wandered away from a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution, and they have, instead, been “legislating from the bench,” or reintrepreting laws to their own liking (instead of how they were written).  The Judicial Branch should not be making law.  And it does not have a monopoly on interpreting the Constitution.  This responsibility, rather, is shared with the Congress.

 

In order to reduce the number of liberal activist judges, President Bush has endeavored to nominate strict constructionists to serve on the courts.  While the House of Representatives is not involved with the confirmation of judges (which is the responsibility of the Senate), I strongly support the nomination of judges who will be faithful to the Constitution’s text.