Course: Introduction
The name Rehnquist Court is used to denote The Supreme Court of the United States during the time that William Rehnquist was the chief justice; this court tended to vote very conservatively.
The Rehnquist Court refers to the era of the United States Supreme Court when William Rehnquist served as Chief Justice from 1986 to 2005. The Court was known for its conservative leanings and its tendency to limit the reach of federal power.
During Rehnquist’s tenure as Chief Justice, the Court handed down several landmark decisions that have had a lasting impact on American law. One of the most notable decisions was United States v. Lopez (1995), in which the Court struck down a federal law that prohibited guns within a certain distance of schools. The Court held that the law exceeded Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause of the Constitution.
Another significant decision was Bush v. Gore (2000), which ended the disputed presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. The Court’s decision to halt the recount of votes in Florida was controversial and remains the subject of debate to this day.
The Rehnquist Court was also known for its emphasis on federalism, the idea that the federal government should have limited powers and that the states should have more autonomy. In several cases, the Court struck down federal laws on the grounds that they violated the Tenth Amendment, which reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states.
One of the most significant cases in this regard was United States v. Morrison (2000), in which the Court struck down a federal law that allowed victims of gender-based violence to sue their attackers in federal court. The Court held that the law exceeded Congress’s power under the Commerce Clause and represented an unconstitutional intrusion into the powers reserved to the states.
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Last Modified: 04/08/2023