Final answer:
The Judicial Branch, particularly the Supreme Court, is considered powerful because it can use judicial review to overrule laws and shape policy. The landmark case of Brown v. Board of Education demonstrates its ability to influence society profoundly.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Power of the Judicial Branch
Some argue that the Judicial Branch, particularly the Supreme Court, is the most powerful branch of the U.S. government because of its role as the final arbiter of the Constitution. Through judicial review, the Supreme Court has the authority to interpret the Constitution and overrule both federal and state laws if they are found to be unconstitutional. This power, granted by Article 3 of the Constitution, ensures the Court can check the legislative and executive branches, potentially having a long-lasting impact on the law and society.
An example of the Supreme Court's significant power is the landmark case Brown v. Board of Education, which in 1954 declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. This major decision helped dismantle the legal framework for racial segregation and illustrates the profound influence of the Supreme Court on American society and policy.
While in Federalist Paper No. 78, Alexander Hamilton described the courts as "the least dangerous" branch, their significant power to shape social norms and political policies reflects a different reality today. Nonetheless, the Supreme Court is less powerful in that it relies on the executive branch to enforce its decisions and cannot initiate laws or actions on its own.