How Did The Latest Supreme Court Term Place Limits on Federal Power?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
The most recent Supreme Court term ended with a number of significant decisions that placed limits on the federal government’s regulatory powers.
Some recent consequential decisions include giving states the power to pass laws that criminalize abortions, overturning New York’s concealed-carry law for handguns, and weakening the separation between church and state. Many analysts noted that the 6-3 conservative majority will look to overturn other precedents and diminish federal power when they return to the courtroom in October.
Outlets across the spectrum noted that the three Trump-appointed justices could "keep control of the court" for decades. Left-rated outlets were more likely to label some of the recent court rulings as "troubling" and criticized the justices for disturbing an "uneasy foundation" of public confidence by hastily shifting in one political direction. Some right-rated outlets criticized progressives for twisting the court's decisions into "harshly personal terms" as well as the "dysfunctional and corrupt" Republican Party for standing in the way of disciplined conservative policies.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
‘Revolutionary’ high court term on abortion, guns and moreAbortion, guns and religion — a major change in the law in any one of these areas would have made for a fateful Supreme Court term. In its first full term together, the court’s conservative majority ruled in all three and issued other significant decisions limiting the government’s regulatory powers.
And it has signaled no plans to slow down.
With former President Donald Trump’s appointees in their 50s, the six-justice conservative majority seems poised to keep control of the court for years to come, if not decades.
“This has been a revolutionary term in so many...
From the Left
Supreme Court's next term could be just as contentiousThe most recent Supreme Court term ended with its conservative majority getting rid of major precedents — most notably Roe v. Wade — and setting new ones on religion and guns.
Driving the news: With a 6-3 majority, the next term — which is set to start in October — could be just as big. Here's a look at some of the most prominent cases the court has already agreed to hear.
Moore v. Harper
This case examines a legal theory that would grant state legislatures significantly more power over federal elections.
From the Right
Justice Thomas rises: A monumental Supreme Court term's rightward shift shows no sign of slowingJustice Clarence Thomas celebrated his 74th birthday last week with a gift he delivered himself — authoring the majority opinion in a gun rights case that will have nationwide implications.
It was the capstone to a monumental, but splintered term that saw the 6-3 conservative majority prevail on a bounty of hot-button issues and building momentum to a dramatic rightward shift that shows no sign of slowing.
As the senior associate justice and de facto driver of the conservative wing, Thomas this year used his deft leadership in the court:
– Striking...
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