Supreme Court Decisions: Overriding and Reversing

Methods of Reversal

Supreme Court decisions can be overturned through two primary routes: constitutional amendments and legislative action.

Constitutional Amendments

Amending the Constitution presents a high threshold to override a Supreme Court ruling. A new or revised amendment must be proposed by Congress with a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate. Upon passage, ratification requires approval by three-quarters of the states.

Legislative Action

In some instances, Congress can pass laws that effectively nullify or narrow the reach of Supreme Court decisions. However, this approach is limited by the principle of judicial review, which allows the Court to strike down laws it finds unconstitutional.