Major cases on citizenship and agency control await rulings
The U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to hand down decisions on two major cases that will shape President Donald Trump's agenda. One case asks who qualifies as an American citizen under the Constitution's birthright citizenship clause. The other case tests how much control the president has over independent federal agencies. Both rulings are expected within weeks.
The court has already issued blockbuster decisions this term. It struck down Trump's worldwide tariffs, ruling they violated an emergency powers law that had never been used in that way before. It also weakened the Voting Rights Act, making it harder for minority voters to elect candidates of their choice. Trump responded by singling out some justices for highly personal criticism.
Court faces accusations of partisan bias
All six conservative justices were appointed by Republican presidents. Legal analysts say decisions involving the political process, including the Voting Rights Act case and Republican-led challenges to mail ballot deadlines and political party spending limits, could fuel criticism that the court is more concerned with partisan politics than neutral legal principles.
At the same time, the court appears willing to set boundaries on Trump's most aggressive moves. The tariff ruling showed the court can rein in executive overreach, even from a president of the same party as the justices who appointed them.
Birthright citizenship case could reshape immigration law
The birthright citizenship case is one of the most closely watched of the term. It challenges the long-standing interpretation of the 14th Amendment, which grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil. A ruling against birthright citizenship would represent one of the biggest shifts in American immigration law in decades and could affect millions of people.