What is one method by which a Supreme Court decision can be changed?

Study for the Taft Law School Bar Exam. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

A Supreme Court decision can be changed through a constitutional amendment, which reflects a foundational shift in the legal framework of the country. This method is rooted in the Constitution itself, giving Congress the authority to propose amendments, which must then be ratified by a significant majority of the states.

This process highlights the importance of a broad consensus when altering judicial interpretations or decisions that may have profound implications for civil rights, federal powers, or any other dimensions of law. Constitutional amendments allow the electorate, through their representatives, to assert a collective will that reshapes the governance and legal landscape, thus effectively overriding previous Supreme Court interpretations.

Other methods of influencing Supreme Court decisions, like new legislation or public referendums, have their limits. New legislation may not always align with the existing interpretation of the Constitution set by the Court unless it addresses specific points raised in the decisions, and public referendums typically do not have legal standing to alter Supreme Court rulings directly. Executive orders also lack the power to change Supreme Court interpretations and are typically subject to judicial review themselves. Hence, a constitutional amendment remains the most definitive way to change a Supreme Court decision.

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