The Supreme Court is an integral function of the government of our nation. Of course, as one of the three branches of the Federal government, they have a job in the checks and balances system. While this is gives the Court a large amount of power, that power has not always been as strong.
When our country began, the Supreme Court held little to no power compared to Congress or the Presidency. It was Chief Justice John Marshall that put the court on the map as the only branch that could interpret the Constitution and say what is constitutional and what is not. Judicial Review brought more respect, dignity, and power to the members of the Supreme Court, establishing their utmost importance in our political system. However, the court has made rulings in the past that limited their power for a time. In the incredibly controversial court case Dred Scott v. Sanford, the court ruled that black people could not be citizens and therefor had no rights. The case not only weakened the courts powers at the time, but remains a racist stain in the good reputation of the Judicial Branch even today.
We currently have a total of nine Justices in the Supreme Court, each with their own opinions and principles. Even though they are different, they all must work together for the good of the people of this nation. Without their hard work, we would not have as many liberties as we do today, because it is the role of the Supreme Court to amend the Constitution if necessary.
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