Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
In recent decades, Supreme Court nominations have grown increasingly contentious and partisan. This video examines the historical shift from once bipartisan and civil confirmation hearings to the deeply divisive process seen today. It focuses on the 1987 nomination of Robert Bork, the most recent nominee to be rejected, as an important moment in this transformation.
The White House has long been a work in progress.
This Library of Congress collection comprises early arguments for colonial rights, protests against British authority, draft constitutions, and multiple working drafts of the Declaration of Independence. It traces the ideas and language that preceded the final document adopted in 1776.
Marbury v. Madison (1803) was a landmark US Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review. This concept empowers American courts to invalidate laws and statutes that violate the Constitution. This decision significantly increased the influence and authority of the Supreme Court. This video from the History Channel outlines the case and its impact on American constitutional law.
Photography and video are prohibited in the Supreme Court, but artists are not. That has resulted in a uniquely expressive visual tradition of capturing oral arguments in the nation’s highest courts, highlights of which can be viewed in this gallery.
The Dred Scott decision was a landmark 1857 US Supreme Court case that denied African Americans citizenship and upheld the legality of slavery. This page from Encyclopedia Britannica explores the case, providing information on Dred Scott and his case before the Supreme Court. Explore the implications of one of the most important cases in the history of the court.
Birthright citizenship is a century-old policy in the US allowing any child born on native US soil to automatically become a US citizen. This policy avoids creating a class of individuals who are born in the country but who are not technically citizens. In recent years, the policy has come under question from administrations seeking to limit immigration to the US.
Discover the National Constitution Center’s collection of landmark Supreme Court cases that shaped US history. Browse by constitutional topic to explore key rulings, their historical impact, and the legal principles they established. Each case includes a summary of the decision, along with notable excerpts from majority and dissenting opinions. Deepen your understanding of how these rulings continue to influence American law and society.
In a 2009 conversation, former Justices Antonin Scalia and Stephen G. Breyer lay out competing approaches to constitutional interpretation—Scalia’s textualist, strict constructionism versus Breyer’s evolutionary view of the Constitution in practice.
While most government leaders have limits to how long they can lead, the United States Supreme Court is a rare exception. The US Constitution established life terms for the country's highest judges, ostensibly to insulate the institution from political pressures associated with campaigning or as a quid pro quo for a brief appointment. Dive into the debate around this controversial US policy with this brief write-up.