Individual Justices and the Solicitor General: Trends in the Amicus Curiae Cases, 1953-2000.

Understanding the relationship among the three branches of the U.S. federal government is critical to understanding our political system. This paper focuses upon the relationship between the judicial and the executive branches. We attempt to provide significant new information related to the nexus between these two branches. Our primary interests revolve around issues of political power, influence, and decision-making. For example, do Supreme Court justices show deference towards the Solicitor General? Are their votes congruent with the positions taken by the Solicitor General?s office? Are certain justices more likely to show support for the executive branch? Is this related to political party? Do issue or policy areas affect the level of support by the justices? Has there been any changes or trends, overtime, in terms of this inter-branch interaction? We will try to advance our knowledge about this relationship by examining cases which included an amicus curiae brief filed by the Solicitor General?s office between 1953-2000. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]