Advise and Consent: The Senate, the Judiciary, and the Filibuster

Books

Advice and consent : Clarence Thomas, Robert Bork and the intriguing history of the Supreme Court's nomination battles / Paul Simon. Bethesda, Md. : National Press Books, c1992. 347.7314 S596a

An insider's account of the confirmation process for Supreme Court nominees by the late Senator Paul Simon.

Battle for justice : how the Bork nomination shook America /  Ethan Bronner. New York : W.W. Norton, c1989. 347.732634 B789b

Excellent account of Bork's failed Supreme Court nomination by a legal affairs reporter for the Boston Globe.

First among equals : the Supreme Court in American life / Kenneth W. Starr. New York : Warner Books, 2002. 347.7326 STARR

A conservative synthesis of the constitutional thinking of today's Supreme Court, by the former Independent Counsel in the Whitewater investigation.

Fortas : the rise and ruin of a Supreme Court Justice / Bruce Allen Murphy. New York : W. Morrow, c1988.BIO FORTAS ABE Murphy Fortas

Fascinating political biography of Abe Fortas, whose failed nomination as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by LBJ in 1968 brought the filibuster into play in the Senate.

Justices and presidents : a political history of appointments to the Supreme Court / Henry J. Abraham. New York : Oxford University Press, 1985. 347.732634 A159j

This classic history of the members of the U.S. Supreme addresses the vital questions of why individual justices were nominated to the highest court, how their nominations were received, whether the appointees ultimately lived up to the expectations of the American public, and what their legacy was on the development of American law and society.

Justice vs. law : courts and politics in American society /  Eugene W. Hickok, Gary L. McDowell. New York : Free Press , c1993. 340.115 H528j

Focusing on the case DeShaney v. Winnego County Social Services (1989), concerning child abuse, the authors, both law professors, examine conflicting views among the Justices about the Court's proper role in American politics and the scope of judicial authority.

Out of order : arrogance, corruption and incompetence on the  bench / Max Boot ; foreword by Robert H. Bork. New York : Basic Books, c1998. 347.7314 B644o

A conservative polemic by a former editorial writer for the Wall Street Journal on the perceived evils of today's judges: ethical lapses, corruption, and judicial overreaching.

Overruling democracy : the Supreme Court vs. the American people / Jamin B. Raskin. New York : Routledge, 2003. 347.7326 RASKIN

Constitutional scholar Raskin uses the Bush versus Gore decision declaring Bush president as a reflection of both the continuing momentum of a rightward swing and the antidemocratic thrust of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Politics or principle? : filibustering in the United States Senate / Sarah A. Binder and Steven S. Smith. Washington, D.C. : Brookings Institution, c1997. 328.73071 B511p

A long-overdue analysis of this particular Senate tactic. Examines the evolution of the rules governing Senate debate, analyzes the consequences of these rules, and evaluates various reform proposals. By two political science professors from the University of Minnesota.

Storm center : the Supreme Court in American politics / David M.    O'Brien. New York : Norton, c1986. 347.7326 O13s

An illuminating, first-rate primer for those seeking to understand the workings of the Court.

The Tempting of America: The Political Seduction of the Law / Robert H. Bork New York : Free Press ; London : Collier Macmillan, c1990. 347.73012 B644t

Bork portrays the Senate's rejection of his nomination to the Supreme Court as one skirmish in a broader battle over the political role of American judges.

VIDEOS

The history and functions of the Supreme Court (1996) VID 347.7326 HISTORY

A short look at the early days of the Court, plus its landmark cases up to the present day including Marbury v. Madison, Dred Scott v. Sanford, Brown v. Board of Education, Roe v. Wade and United States v. Nixon.

Frank Capra's Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939) VID MR SMITH

See the filibuster in action! Washington's youngest senator exposes corruption in high places, almost at the cost of his career. Starring Jimmy Stewart, directed by Frank Capra.

ON THE WEB

Evolution of the Senate's Role in the Nomination and Confirmation Process: A Brief History.

From the Congressional Research Service, in PDF format.

Virtual Reference Desk: Filibuster

From the U.S. Senate Historical Office.

The Filibuster

Short overview of the filibuster as a legislative tactic, from Answers.com.

Taking Issue: The Filibuster

Commentaries for and against the filibuster. From National Public Radio (NPR).

History News Network

Features articles and op eds by historians from both the left and right on issues of current interest. Includes several articles on the filibuster controversy by John Dean, David Greenberg, Tom Palaima, Julian E. Zelizer, and David E. Kyvig.