Question

The executive and legislative branches are responsible for judicial implementation because the Supreme Court __________.

a. does not have any enforcement powers
b. lacks funding to follow up on rulings
c. has limited manpower to execute on decisions
d. has a low approval rating with the public
e. is the weakest of all three branches

Answer 1

The Supreme Court lacks enforcement powers, relying on the executive to enforce its decisions and on the legislature to fund implementations. Historical examples show how judgments are reliant on other branches for actualization.

Step-by-step explanation:

The executive and legislative branches are responsible for judicial implementation because the Supreme Court does not have any enforcement powers. As highlighted by Alexander Hamilton in Federalist No. 78, the judiciary has 'neither force nor will, but merely judgment,' indicating the court system's reliance on assistance from the other two branches. The executive branch is tasked with the enforcement of the Court's decisions, and the legislative branch provides funding for their implementation.

This system ensures that while the judiciary plays a critical role in interpreting the law, it must work in conjunction with the other branches to have its rulings actualized. Historical instances such as President Andrew Jackson's refusal to enforce a Supreme Court ruling, and Congress's power to withhold funding, demonstrate the judiciary's dependence on the executive and legislative branches.