Final answer:
The statement is false, as justices of the Supreme Court are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, rather than being elected by citizens, making them part of a non-democratic selection process ensuring separation of powers.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Supreme Court is our most democratic branch of government is false. The justices of the Supreme Court are not elected by the citizens; they are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate. This method of selection does not involve a direct vote by the populace, which is a primary characteristic of democratic processes. Instead, the selection process for Supreme Court justices is a part of the system of checks and balances between the branches of government, ensuring that no single branch has too much power.
The Court's decisions can indeed have significant societal impacts, shaping legal and constitutional interpretation that affects all citizens. However, the justices are appointed for life (or until they choose to resign or are removed under exceptional circumstances), providing them with a level of independence from politics and public opinion. This structure is intended to allow them to make rulings based solely on legal principles and the Constitution without concern for electoral repercussions.
Among the three branches of the U.S. government, the judiciary is often viewed as the least democratic due to the non-elective nature of judicial appointments. Moreover, advocates of judicial restraint argue that the courts should defer policy decisions to the elected Legislative and Executive branches, thus emphasizing the judiciary's role as interpreters rather than makers of law.