Table of Contents
Does the Supreme Court have the power to nullify an act of Congress?
anything in the constitution or laws of any state to the contrary notwithstanding.” The courts have held that federal laws are therefore superior to state laws and cannot be negated by the states. The courts therefore have held that the states do not have the power to nullify federal law.
In what way can the Congress check the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court and other federal courts (judicial branch) can declare laws or presidential actions unconstitutional, in a process known as judicial review. By passing amendments to the Constitution, Congress can effectively check the decisions of the Supreme Court.
How does Congress check the power of the Supreme Court?
Congress’s main checks on the judiciary include the power to amend the Constitution, pass new laws, approve the president’s appointment of judges, control the number of justices on the Supreme Court, and impeach judges guilty of treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors.
How does the Supreme Court use its power?
The third area involves the most questionable use of Supreme Court power. The Court assumes the power to say to Congress, not that it violated anyone’s rights or that it passed a law that crossed the line that separated one branch of government from another, but simply that Congress lacked the power to act.
What does the Supreme Court say about Congress?
States have the power to pass any law they choose (subject to both state and federal constitutional restraints). But when Congress passes a law, it must rely on specific grants of power contained in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. From the start, the Supreme Court held that these grants must be broadly interpreted.
How many seats are there on the Supreme Court?
Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, from a low of five to a high of 10. Shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats on the Court was fixed at nine. Today, there is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court.
What does the constitution say about the judiciary?
Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary. Article III, Section I states that “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”.