A Primer on the 47 Most Impactful Supreme Court Cases of All Time

Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Advertisement The US Supreme Court, the court of last resort, has undeniably changed the country.

  • The US Supreme Court was formed in 1789. It's gone from five seats to 10, and is now fixed at nine.
  • Some of its decisions have empowered women, helped protect the environment, or guaranteed the right to expression.
  • Others have strengthened racist laws, enabled forced sterilization, and allowed unequal schooling.

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The US Supreme Court, the court of last resort, has undeniably changed the country.

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It makes fewer than 100 decisions every year that have sweeping effects on American life.

Some have changed race relations for the better, empowered women, given the press freedom to operate, guaranteed a person's right to expression, or reiterated that the president is not above the law.

Not every decision has aged well. Other decisions have enforced slavery or created uneven schooling in the US. Last year, the court overturned a landmark case that legalized abortion in 1973.

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Just before the nation's highest court entered summer recess at the end of June this year, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court issued two highly-anticipated rulings — one ending affirmative action at colleges and universities and another striking down President Joe Biden's student-loan forgiveness plan.

Here are 47 of the most important cases the Supreme Court has decided.

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