The Weeds: the Supreme Court vacancy and the possible collapse of American democracy

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia's unexpected death left Washington in gridlock: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell vowed not to confirm any nominee that President Obama might put forward prior to the presidential election.

No other democracy gives its high court justices life tenure on the bench — so no other country has these unexpected, tumultuous, and sudden vacancies. So on this episode of The Weeds, we talk about the case for term-limiting the Supreme Court and what that might mean for the legal system.

Also on this episode: a look at the political fight over Scalia's replacement and a 25-year-old work of political science that implies the United States is heading for a coup. What fun! You can find the episode below or on iTunes. Send us your feedback and show ideas at weeds@vox.com.

Show notes:

• "Life Tenure, Re-Considered," the paper from Steven Calabresi and James Lindgren making the case for term limits on the Supreme Court
• Alexander Hamilton’s Federalist Paper on judicial tenure, Federalist 78
• David Stras's paper in favor of life terms — and "golden parachutes" for Supreme Court justices
• Ezra’s "semi-persuasive piece" on why prominent Republicans ended up blocking any nominee
• Juan Linz’s "Perils of Presidential Democracy"
• Ezra thinks American democracy will muddle along
• Matt argues that our democracy is doomed