Tag: constitutional interpretation

The debate over birthright citizenship has reemerged as one of the most consequential constitutional and policy questions in contemporary American politics. On May 15, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court convened a special oral argument session to consider whether the administration of President Donald J. Trump may implement an executive order redefining the scope of the Fourteenth Amendment’s Citizenship Clause—specifically by excluding from automatic U.S. citizenship children born on American soil to parents “unlawfully present” or “lawful but temporary” in the country. Traditionally, birthright citizenship, enshrined in the plain language of Section 1 of the Fourteenth Amendment (“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States…”), has been interpreted broadly since the seminal Supreme Court decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898).

Supreme Court Rulings: The Supreme Court of the United States stands poised to issue rulings on a series of monumental cases that could reshape the nation's constitutional landscape. From voting rights and environmental regulation to the scope of executive power and social issues such as gun control and affirmative action, the Court's docket for this term reflects a concentrated convergence of ideological, legal, and political tensions. As the American public navigates increasingly polarized political discourse, these decisions may influence not only the practical dimensions of law and governance but also the philosophical underpinnings of American democracy itself.