Supreme Court vs presidential power

Supreme Court vs presidential power

Supreme Court

  • The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States, comprised of nine justices who serve lifetime appointments.
  • Justices are selected by the president but must be confirmed by the Senate in a majority vote.
  • The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, allowing it to overturn any federal, state, or local law or executive order that it deems to be unconstitutional.
  • One of the most influential powers of the Supreme Court is its ability to interpret the Constitution and establish legal precedents.
  • Supreme Court decisions are final; the only way a ruling can be changed is by a future Supreme Court ruling or through a constitutional amendment.

Presidential Power

  • The President is the head of the executive branch and chief executive of the federal government.
  • Presidential powers include the ability to veto bills passed by Congress, issue executive orders, appoint federal officials (including Supreme Court justices), and serve as commander-in-chief of the military.
  • The President is elected to a four-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms.
  • In practice, presidents also have significant influence on public policy and the legislative agenda.

Supreme Court vs Presidential Power

  • The Supreme Court and the President have a nuanced relationship governed by the Constitution’s system of checks and balances.
  • Any executive order or law supported by the President can be reviewed by the Supreme Court and possibly declared unconstitutional.
  • The President has the power to appoint Supreme Court justices, affecting the ideological balance of the court. Yet nominated justices must be confirmed by the Senate.
  • The Court can limit the President’s ability to act unilaterally, as seen in the 1952 case, Youngstown Sheet & Tube Co. vs. Sawyer, in which the Supreme Court ruled against President Truman’s seizure of steel mills.
  • The President can influence the Court through the appointment of justices, but once appointed, the justices are independent and are under no obligation to uphold the President’s views or policies.
  • The powers of both entities are shaped by Constitutional interpretation, societal norms, policymaking, and legal precedent.