Reflecting on the position of the U.S. Supreme Court has given me a better understanding of how it molds our countries legal process and policies. After watching the videos, one very important thing I learned is that before the case Marbury v. Madison (1803), There was no such thing as Judicial Review. The case gave the Supreme Court power to review other branches of government, ensuring that laws and actions abide by the Constitution. I truly never understood the importance that this case had on the country.
The most important thing I learned is how much of a pivotal role the Supreme Court plays in balancing power among the branches of our government. The Supreme Court doesn't only clarify the law, it's the decision-maker on what laws passed by Congress or actions taken by the President are constitutional. The court is responsible for ensuring that any change made in society is mirrored in how laws are interpreted and protecting individual rights. The Supreme Court is necessary to keep our branches in check and limit one another from using too much power.
What surprised me the most was the Alien and Sedition Acts. I have heard of this act, but I've never done any research or learned about what it really was until now. The Alien and Sedition Act was passed in 1798 and was made to make it harder for immigrants to become citizens and made it illegal to criticize the government. I wasn't aware that these laws were implemented to limit the rights of immigrants and make it very easy for them to become criminals. You always hear that the government was created on a foundation of freedom for all but this just adds to the list of flaws the early government had. I believe this is entirely unconstitutional regardless if the people involved were American citizens or not. It shows you how the government was willing to risk freedoms for national security.
Before watching the video, I saw the Supreme Court as just any federal institution that made decisions based on the law. While that's not completely wrong, I now understand that the Supreme Court is much more involved and more contentious in shaping society. I also learned that the Court doesn't just observe the laws, but is also important in deciding how laws should be interpreted and applied. it also calls attention to how personal philosophies of the justice system can influence decisions, even though they're supposed to be unbiased.
I also didn't fully understand the stare decisis, which means to "stand by things decided." In other words, it is the principle of following past decisions when making new rulings. I always just assumed that each decision was made in separation and based on the circumstances. But now I know how important it is for the court to follow past judgments to maintain solidity in the legal system. However, this is not always true, especially when there are changes in society and laws need to be updated. Another interesting fact is the Supreme Court only takes about 100 cases per year. Overall, I believe The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in America, and we would not be where we are today if it wasn't for judicial review and checks and balances.
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