Final answer:
The Supreme Court plays a significant role in shaping laws, policies, and protecting individual rights in the United States. It has the power to interpret the Constitution, establish legal precedents, and make decisions with wide-ranging impacts. The Court is often seen as the guardian of the Constitution and individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court plays a significant role in shaping laws and policies in the United States. As the highest court in the land, it has the power to interpret and apply the Constitution to different cases, including deciding on the constitutionality of laws.
Supreme Court decisions have a wide-ranging impact on society. They can establish new legal precedents, protect individual rights, and shape public policy. For example, landmark cases like Brown v. Board of Education and Roe v. Wade have had profound impacts on civil rights and reproductive rights, respectively.
The Supreme Court is often referred to as the "guardian of the Constitution" and individual rights because it has the authority to safeguard constitutional principles and protect the rights of individuals.
Through its power of judicial review, the Court can strike down laws that violate the Constitution. This ensures that government actions remain within the bounds of the Constitution's protections and that individual rights are not infringed upon.