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The Supreme Court rules on the Constitutionality of state and Federal Laws. It validates and invalidates rules, laws, procedures and policies. However, it has no enforcement powers. The Executive Branch is the enforcer, and can choose whether or not to use its power in accordance with the Court's rulings. For a perfect example of this, look at the political background surrounding Marbury v. Madison (1803). By all rights, Marbury should have won. President Jefferson and his secretary of state, James Madison, said preemptively that they didn't care what the Supreme Court said. The Court was a bunch of nobodies, with no power whatsoever, and they would not issue Marbury's commission under any circumstances. If the Court had ruled for Marbury, and ordered Madison to issue the commission, the Court would have been the laughing stock of the country, because the Executive Branch was poised to ignore the Court's ruling. The Executive Branch has to put the Court's rulings into effect or they have no meaning.

From: Kira D. Woof

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14y ago

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