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No, the US Supreme Court can't enforce its decisions; this limitation is one of the checks on the power of the Judicial branch. The Court generally must rely on the Executive branch to ensure the order the Supreme Court is carried out.
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JudyThe US Supreme Court enforces its decisions through a combination of legal precedent and the authority granted to it by the US Constitution. Once the Supreme Court issues a decision, lower courts are bound to follow that decision as the law of the land. Additionally, the Supreme Court can use its power of judicial review to declare laws or actions unconstitutional, effectively nullifying them. Finally, the executive branch, particularly law enforcement agencies, is responsible for carrying out and enforcing the decisions of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of the United States of America was not granted by Constitution the power to enforce laws or judicial decisions. That limited and temporary power was granted to the Executive Branch in the case of the federal government that would be the President of the United States and his appointed Cabinet members. To a lesser degree, the Congress can enforce some laws through the creation of administrative agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service.
Answer
The US Supreme Court can't enforce its decisions; this limitation is one of the checks on the power of the Judicial branch. The Court must rely on the Executive branch to ensure the order the Supreme Court is carried out.
Answer
This is a complex question due to the variety of types of decisions a court can make.
It can use the contempt power, disbarment, etc. against against certain individuals, but in other cases, the decision resolves civil disputes, or criminal/constitutional procedure issues, bars or allows particular governmental actions. Ultimately a court must, in the last instance, rely on the Executive Branch to enforce decisions as stated above.
It doesn't, for two reasons:
- The Supreme Court doesn't enact laws; it issues decisions that may create common law or nullify an existing law, but these are not referred to as "the Supreme Court's laws," because only Congress has the constitutional authority to create new legislation.
- The US Supreme Court has no enforcement power over its decisions; that authority falls to the Executive (Presidential) branch of government, and may be supported by new laws passed by Congress. This sometimes creates problems if the President or Congress are uncooperative.
Although it may seem strange for the Court to make a decision but have no authority to carry it out, this rule is part of the federal government' system of checks and balances, designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
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What is the term for the decrees of the US Supreme Court?
US Supreme Court decisions are called "Opinions."
How have the US Supreme Court decisions about state rights changed over time?
How have the supreme court has changes
Why does the US Supreme Court sometimes reverse its earlier decisions?
court decision reflect changing social political and economic condition
What branch of the US government makes decisions concerning the constitutionality of US laws?
In the United States the US Supreme Court decides if laws meet the requirements of the US Constitution.
What is the court of last resort for all questions of federal law?
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, apex court, and highest court of appeal. Broadly speaking, the decisions of a supreme court are not subject to further review by any other court.
