SCOTUS has given Trump a victory by ending nationwide injunctions, limiting judges’ power to block presidential orders.
HEADLINE: The Week, 7/15/2025, Supreme Court: Ceding more power to Trump?
The answer to the question in the above headline is clear. No, the Supreme Court is not ceding more power to President Trump. The Supreme Court acknowledges the constitutional powers of the Executive Branch.
The U.S. Constitution was created on September 17, 1787. It was ratified on June 21, 1788, and became effective on March 4, 1789. Our Constitution has been the Supreme Law of the Land for 236 consecutive years.
What are the constitutional powers of federal Supreme Court associate justices and those in inferior courts? Article III of the Constitution succinctly outlines the judicial powers in three paragraphs. Simply stated, the role of the judicial branch is to resolve disputes in civil and criminal cases, “arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;—to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;—to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;—to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party;—to Controversies between two or more States;— between a State and Citizens of another State,—between Citizens of different States,—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.” [Article III, Section 2]
Is the Supreme Court the supreme law of the land? No. The Supreme Court is the highest appellate court.
Article VI, the second clause, defines the Supreme Law of the Land: “This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”
The Historical Backdrop of the Constitution
Donald S. Lutz, professor of political philosophy at the University of Houston, and his research assistant Charles Hyneman, examined 15,000 documents of the 55 men who wrote the U.S. Constitution. At the end of their 10-year investigation, they reported that 34 percent of direct quotes of the Founders came from the Bible, 8.3 percent from the French philosopher Montesquieu, 7.9 percent from English jurist William Blackstone, and 2.9 percent from English philosopher John Locke.
Isaiah 33:22 declares the tripartite division of government — judicial, legislative and executive.
Recognizing that “absolute power corrupts absolutely” and that mankind is basically sinful/evil (Jeremiah 17:9), the Founding Fathers sought the separation of powers and a system of checks and balances. Articles I, II and III provide for the legislative, executive and judicial branches of government.
The welcome extended to immigrants (Article 1, section 8) is mandated by Leviticus 19:34.
According to Deuteronomy 17:15, the nation’s leader must be a natural-born citizen. That is the restriction of the person elected to serve as president by Article II, section 1.
No one may be executed by the testimony of only one witness, as stipulated in Article III, section 3 of the Constitution and by Deuteronomy 17:6.
Both Ezekiel 18:20 and Article I, Sections 9 and 10 prohibit the practice of “attainder” — the charge of a felony or treason and loss of all civil rights, including the culpability of family members.
The special status of the house of worship was established in Ezra 7:24.
The concept of a republican form of government was outlined in Exodus 18:21, where Moses instructed the Israelites to select their leaders (“Men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain”) from all the people for all levels of governance. Article IV, Section 4 guarantees the right of representative government in all states.
If men hate dishonest gain, they will honor the talents of others as provided in Article I, Section 8, paragraph 8 that provides for the protection of authors and inventors.
Excerpt from the SC Times, July 22, 2015, author Phyllis Van Buren: Constitution clearly framed by Christian influences
The three branches of the republican form of government are not “co-equal”. There is a distinct hierarchy connoted by the numeric position of the first three articles of the Constitution and the word counts:
- Article I — 2,268 words, 13,249 characters
- Article II — 1,024 words, 4,864 characters
- Article III — 371 words, 1,896 characters
Our Founding Fathers were all too familiar with tyrannical governments. In such regimes, one person can deprive the whole population of natural rights. By no means are the three branches of government “co-equal.” The word count and the text of the first three articles of the Constitution prove this.
Presidents appoint all federal judges, but can’t remove any federal judges. The Legislative Branch approves all federal judges and can remove them through the process of impeachment.
Presidents are elected by the several states but can be removed from office by the Legislative Branch.
Clearly, the most powerful branch is the Legislative Branch. The one who can fire you is your boss.
The Judicial Branch has no authority to dictate how the President executes his duties. Article II, Section 1 states, “The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.” Vested means held completely, permanently, and inalienably.
The Executive Branch must adhere to the Supreme Law of the Land. If it acts contrary, a complainant can file a lawsuit against it. If the Executive Branch does not yield to the complainant(s), the Legislative Branch can impeach the president. They can also remove a sitting president.
The importance of the division of powers lies in its prevention of the rise of tyranny.
Knowledge is Power.
John White
Rockwall, Texas
John N. White 