Question

Select the correct answer. What was the importance of the Supreme Court having its own independent building? A. Congress could continue to hold a position of power over the court based on location. B. The president could hold a position of power over the court based on location. C. The court was no longer beholden to Congress for room. D. The new building emphasized the national scope of the court. E. Justices could be kept away from lobbyists who would influence their judgments.

Answer 1

The importance of the Supreme Court having its own building is that it solidified the Court's status as an independent and coequal branch of the federal government, no longer physically or symbolically subordinate to Congress.

Step-by-step explanation:

The significance of the Supreme Court having its own independent building lies in its embodiment as a coequal, independent branch of the federal government. By occupying its own space, the Court was able to symbolize and actualize its autonomy from the other branches of government, particularly from Congress, which it had previously shared space with. The correct answer to the student's question is C. The court was no longer beholden to Congress for room. This autonomy is crucial in upholding the checks and balances system that ensures no single branch of government, including Congress or the presidency, has undue influence over the judiciary.

When Congress, influenced by Chief Justice William Howard Taft, designated funding for the Supreme Court building, it was a symbolic gesture that recognized the Court's equal stature and independence. This separation demonstrates a commitment to the principles of justice and liberty that are inscribed on the building itself, and safeguards the Court's ability to function without interference or the perception of being under the control of the legislative or executive branches.