What constitutional restrictions existed regarding the appointment of women to the Supreme Court before Sandra Day O'Connor?

What constitutional restrictions existed regarding the appointment of women to the Supreme Court before Sandra Day O'Connor?

• A. Women were explicitly prohibited from serving
• B. There were no constitutional restrictions
• C. Only married women could be appointed
• D. Women could serve only as clerks

Answer: (B)

The answer indicating that there were no constitutional restrictions on the appointment of women to the Supreme Court before Sandra Day O'Connor is accurate. The United States Constitution does not contain any provisions barring women from serving as justices on the Supreme Court. In fact, Article II of the Constitution grants the President the power to nominate justices with the advice and consent of the Senate, and it does not stipulate any gender restrictions on those nominees. Before O'Connor's appointment in 1981, societal and cultural norms may have influenced the lack of women serving on the Court, but these were not formal constitutional barriers. The absence of explicit prohibitions means that women were eligible to be appointed to the Supreme Court, but it was largely a matter of historical precedent and the prevailing attitudes of the time that shaped the makeup of the Court.

The answer indicating that there were no constitutional restrictions on the appointment of women to the Supreme Court before Sandra Day O'Connor is accurate. The United States Constitution does not contain any provisions barring women from serving as justices on the Supreme Court. In fact, Article II of the Constitution grants the President the power to nominate justices with the advice and consent of the Senate, and it does not stipulate any gender restrictions on those nominees.

Before O'Connor's appointment in 1981, societal and cultural norms may have influenced the lack of women serving on the Court, but these were not formal constitutional barriers. The absence of explicit prohibitions means that women were eligible to be appointed to the Supreme Court, but it was largely a matter of historical precedent and the prevailing attitudes of the time that shaped the makeup of the Court.