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- The US Supreme Court was formed in 1789. It’s gone from five seats to 10, and is now fixed at nine.
- It makes fewer than 100 decisions every year, but its choices have had a huge impact on the country.
- Some decisions have empowered women, helped protect the environment, or guaranteed a person’s right to expression. Others have strengthened racist laws, enabled forced sterilization, and allowed unequal schooling.
- Here is a guide to 45 of the Supreme Court’s most impactful decisions.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
The US Supreme Court, the court of last resort, has undeniably changed the country.
It makes fewer than 100 decisions every year that have sweeping effects on American life.
Some have changed race relations for the better, empowered women, given the press freedom to operate, guaranteed a person’s right to expression, or reiterated that the president is not above the law.
Not every decision has aged well. Other decisions have enforced slavery or create uneven schooling in the US.
Here are 45 of the most important cases the Supreme Court has ever decided.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
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The case: Before President Thomas Jefferson took office in 1801, lame duck John Adams and Congress created new courts and appointed dozens of judges, including William Marbury as Justice of the Peace in the District of Columbia. But the new administration’s Secretary of State James Madison wouldn’t validate the appointment. So Marbury sued.
The decision: The justices ruled unanimously that Madison’s refusal was illegal, and that the law Marbury had sued under was also unconstitutional. More importantly, this ruling held that the Supreme Court had the power of "judicial review" to decide whether a law or executive action is constitutional. This essentially gave the high court the legal authority for every decision it would make in the future.
Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
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The case: In 1808, New York state gave Aaron Ogden a 20-year license to operate his steamboats on waters within the state. Thomas Gibson, another steam boat operator and Ogden’s former business partner, was also working in the area, with a license from the federal government. Ogden claimed Gibbons was undercutting his business by unfairly competing. He wanted Gibbons to stop operating, and argued his license was enforceable, even though it was on interstate waters. Gibbons argued that the US Constitution gave Congress power over interstate commerce.
The decision: The Supreme Court unanimously held states cannot interfere with Congress’s ability to regulate commerce. State laws had to yield to constitutional acts by Congress, so the court ruled in Gibbon’s favor. It was an important early decision finding that federal governments had the ability to determine interstate commerce.
Worcester v. Georgia (1832)
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The case: In 1828, Georgia passed laws prohibiting anyone except Native Americans from living on Native American land. Samuel Worcester, a missionary, was living on Native American land and refused to apply for a license. He was arrested and appealed, arguing his removal was a violation of his constitutional rights, as Georgia had no jurisdiction on Native American land.
The decision: The Supreme Court held, 5-1, that the Cherokee Nation was a sovereign "distinct community." It struck down the Georgia law prohibiting white people living on Native American land. The case was important because it set out the relationship between tribes, states, and the federal government. It meant that interaction with Native American states became a federal process, and provided some sovereignty when interacting with the US government.
But it wasn’t always enforced. Then-President Andrew Jackson said, "John Marshall has issued his decision. Let him enforce it."
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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Source: Business Insider – feedback@businessinsider.com (James Pasley)