The Supreme Court's Power Play: What It Means for the President

Key Points

• Supreme Court's conservative majority is pushing to give the president more control.
• They might overturn a 90-year-old decision that limits the president's power to fire certain officials.
• The court has already allowed President Trump to fire many officials, despite a 1935 decision.
• The only officials he hasn't been able to fire are Lisa Cook and Shira Perlmutter.

The Unitary Executive Theory

• Conservative justices argue for complete presidential control over the executive branch.
• This idea is known as the unitary executive theory.
• Legal experts argue that the court is misinterpreting history and the Constitution.

The FTC Case

• The case before the court involves the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
• In 1935, the court decided the president couldn't fire FTC leaders without cause.
• Now, the court might overturn that decision.

Potential Consequences

• If overturned, it could affect Lisa Cook's job at the Federal Reserve.
• The court is also considering whether judges can reinstate fired officials.
• The Justice Department argues for presidential power to fire officials for any reason.
• Historians argue that limits on presidential power are consistent with the Constitution and U.S. history.

Upcoming Arguments

• The court will hear arguments in January about whether Lisa Cook can keep her job.
• This case could change the balance of power between the president and Congress.