Final answer:
The power of the Supreme Court is limited in several ways. One limitation is that the Court does not have the authority to initiate its own cases, as they can only come from a lower court. The attempt to overcome segregation demonstrates the Court's limitations, as its decisions relied on politicians and society to enforce them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The power of the Supreme Court is limited in several ways. One limitation is that the Court does not have the authority to initiate its own cases, as cases can only come to it from a lower court. Additionally, the Court relies on the Executive and Legislative branches of government to enforce its rulings, which means that its decisions can only be enforced if politicians are willing to abide by them.
The attempt to overcome segregation demonstrates these limitations on the Court's power. In the case of Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Supreme Court declared segregation in schools unconstitutional. However, the decision was not immediately enforced in the southern states, as politicians and society were resistant to integration. It took until 1957 for the decision to be enforced, highlighting the Court's reliance on the Executive branch to enforce its rulings.
Another example is the Supreme Court's inability to enforce its decisions if the public perceives it as going too far. Chief Justice Earl Warren and his colleagues faced public criticism and condemnation during the 1950s for their school desegregation decisions, which limited the Court's power and showcased the impact of public opinion on the Court.