The US Supreme Court has the power;

• To interpret the U.S. Constitution
• Of Judicial Review
• To interpret laws to ensure they are constitutional
• To ensure laws are faithfully applied.
• To rule on cases involving the Constitution, federal laws, treaties and disputes between states

However, the powers of the Supreme Court can be summarised in its four roles.

• judicial review established through Marbury v. Madison (1803)
• the Court may void any actions or statutes that come into conflict with the constitution
• judiciary can hold other branches of government to its own interpretation of the constitution
• example in case of Bush v. Gore (2000) where Supreme Court overturned judgement of Florida
  Supreme Court, making Bush the 43rd president

• hears cases involving public officials or where states are a party (original jurisdiction)
• highest court of appeal (appellate jurisdiction)
• hears cases that are a cause of
  confusion or controversy in lower courts
• Justices can interpret constitution literally (strict constructionist)
• Justices can interpret constitution by ‘reading between the lines’ (loose constructionist)

• differences in interpretation of the same part of the constitution over a period of time can sometimes be the equivalent of legislation e.g.  Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954) on
  segregation
• can be argued court did not interpret constitution but amended it
• “The Supreme Court of the United States assumed quasi legislative authority” – John W Brocker
• drags the other two branches along

• the court follows precedent and shows judicial restraint
• precedent can be challenged and changed but generally over a long period of time and several cases
• precedent is the norm and the Court moves slowly, if at all
• if the judiciary used power of review excessively or controversially, it may come under
  attack from the other two branches
• court has little power to enforce its decisions