Final answer:
The SEC cannot issue an injunction directly and must request one from a U.S. District Court as it lacks the authority to grant injunctive relief autonomously.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question posed relates to the powers of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and whether it has the authority to issue an injunction directly. The correct answer is (d) Not directly; it must ask a U.S. District Court for an injunction. The SEC, as a regulatory body, does not have the power to issue an injunction itself; instead, it must seek such relief through the judiciary. Specifically, the SEC would need to ask a U.S. District Court to provide injunctive relief when it believes there has been a violation of securities laws.
The rest of the provided response content further supports the concept of checks and balances within different branches of the government. It highlights the ways in which the legislative can check the judiciary, such as through Senate confirmation of judges or rewriting legislation. It also touches on the limitations of the judiciary's power, emphasizing that the Supreme Court cannot enforce its rulings directly but relies on the executive and legislative branches to do so.