Question

which of the following explains the purpose of judicial independence?

the judicial branch is the only branch that is not checked by the others.
federal judges are expected to be impartial when making decisions.
the judicial branch has the power to allow states to be independent.
federal judges are allowed to rule on a case without a majority vote.

Explanation:

Define judicial independence

Judicial independence is the concept that the judiciary should be kept away from the other branches of government. That is, courts should not be subject to improper influence from the legislative or executive branches, or from private or partisan interests.

Connect to the student's prior knowledge

Using the Federalist No. 78 and Judicial Decision-Making knowledge points, we know that Alexander Hamilton argued for life tenure for federal judges to shield them from political pressures. This structural protection ensures that judges can make decisions based on the law and the Constitution rather than public opinion or political retaliation.

Evaluate the options

• Option 1: "The judicial branch is the only branch that is not checked by the others." This is incorrect. The judiciary is checked by Congress (e.g., impeachment, altering the number of courts, Senate confirmation) and the President (e.g., nomination of judges).
• Option 2: "Federal judges are expected to be impartial when making decisions." This is correct. The primary purpose of isolating judges from political pressure (via life tenure and salary protection) is to allow them to make fair, unbiased, and impartial rulings.
• Option 3: "The judicial branch has the power to allow states to be independent." This is incorrect. The judiciary does not grant independence to states.
• Option 4: "Federal judges are allowed to rule on a case without a majority vote." This is incorrect. Multi-judge appellate panels and the Supreme Court still require a majority vote to decide a case.

Answer:

• (A) The judicial branch is the only branch that is not checked by the others.
• (B) Federal judges are expected to be impartial when making decisions. (Correct answer)
• (C) The judicial branch has the power to allow states to be independent.
• (D) Federal judges are allowed to rule on a case without a majority vote.