Supreme Court Term: Birthright Citizenship, Campaign Finance, and Independent Agencies Rulings
Key Questions
What was the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's birthright citizenship executive order?
The Supreme Court blocked Trump's birthright citizenship executive order. Kavanaugh suggested a statutory path, but scholars indicate only a constitutional amendment would suffice.
How did the Court change rules on coordinated party spending?
The Court struck down limits on coordinated party spending, which is already affecting expensive races like Ohio's Senate and governor contests.
What legislative responses are being proposed regarding birthright citizenship?
Johnson is advancing bills like the Graham/Babin measure and SAVE Act reconciliation, while Rand Paul supports an Article V convention; a new bill targets citizenship in territories using Insular Cases, though Guam and CNMI have rejected it.
Supreme Court blocked Trump's birthright citizenship executive order; Kavanaugh suggested statutory path but scholars say only amendment works. Johnson pushing legislative fixes. Court also struck down limits on coordinated party spending—now having concrete effects in Ohio's expensive Senate and governor races—and limited independent agencies (Slaughter ruling). A new SCOTUSblog critique argues the Roberts Court is gutting Congress's power. The CLARITY Act proposed as fix but creates illicit financing loophole; Senate timeline tight with Democratic divisions. Pending rulings on presidential power and election laws. Term winding down. A new test case on regulating super PACs is before the First Circuit, potentially creating a circuit split to force SCOTUS review. Dark money has become a formidable force, with $1.9 billion in secret spending.