The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest authority in the country's judicial system, standing alongside the executive and legislative branches in the federal government.
Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
In the US, nine unelected justices can shape some of the most personal and political parts of our lives. But the Supreme Court wasn’t always this powerful. When it was first written into the Constitution, it had no clear authority, no real role, and little public respect.
Court packing is the practice of altering the number of Supreme Court justices, typically to shift the court's ideological balance. The US Constitution doesn't specify the number of justices; this is determined by Congress. Historically, the court's size has varied, notably during the Civil War era. This page from the National Constitution Center explores the times presidents attempted to “pack the court,” including an unsuccessful attempt by Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1937.
Nearly 500 laws have been overturned by the Supreme Court since 1789. The court ruled these laws unconstitutional, meaning they were in contradiction to the nation’s founding document or its amendments. This table lists every overturned federal or state law, with the reason for each.
What is the link between campaign finance and political influence in the United States? In 2010, the Supreme Court made a controversial decision that allowed wealthy donors and corporations to further influence US politics. The ruling, in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, reversed century-old campaign finance restrictions. As a result, corporations and other outside groups could spend unlimited funds on elections. Ultimately, some fear that the Citizens United decision has had negative repercussions for American democracy and in the fight against political corruption. This explainer outlines the main facts around Citizens United.
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.
Throughout its history, the Supreme Court ruled on dozens of cases regarding a woman’s right to receive an abortion. The landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case established a constitutional right to an abortion, which was later overturned by Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022. This explainer page from the Brennan Center outlines key abortion-related cases, their impacts, and the current justices' stances on the issue.
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.
This page from the US Supreme Court's official website outlines the Court's operational framework. It details the annual term's structure, alternating between "sittings" for hearing cases and "recesses" for deliberation and opinion writing. Head here for a description of the protocols for oral argument, the court’s decision-making processes, and the Justices' continuous responsibilities.
"Do the best you can in every task, no matter how unimportant it may seem at the time."
In a majority opinion, Justice James C. McReynolds wrote, “The fundamental theory of liberty upon which all governments in this Union repose excludes any general power of the state to standardize its children by forcing them to accept instruction from public teachers only.”