Work in progress — cycles are added one at a time. Every quote is machine-verified against an archived source; follow the links to read it.
Issues › Government & Institutions
Independence of the Supreme Court
| Cycle | Candidate | Position | Solution | Strength | Attribution | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | Herbert Hoover (Republican) | Preserve the independence of the Supreme Court from party control | Continue appointing justices 'solely on the basis of their character and their mental power' regardless of party; reject any conception of the Court as 'an instrument of party policy.' | directional_stance | candidate_direct | not_applicable |
| 1932 | Norman Thomas (Socialist) | A Workers' Rights Amendment; curb the Supreme Court's power over Congress; proportional representation; direct election of the President | Constitutional changes: a 'Workers' Rights Amendment' removing legal obstacles to nationalization and social insurance; limit the Supreme Court's power to void congressional legislation; proportional representation; dire… | specific_pledge | party_platform | not_applicable |
| 1936 | Alf Landon (Republican) | An independent Supreme Court secure from executive or legislative invasion; maintain the balance between States and nation | Resist all attempts to impair the Court's authority; keep within the Constitution; oppose the lodging of reserved powers in the Chief Executive. | directional_stance | candidate_direct | not_applicable |