Institutional power file · Federal judiciary
US Supreme Court
How constitutional review, precedent, jurisdiction and compliance shape the Court's power over federal and state action.
Power mechanisms
Where authority actually moves
Latest analysis
5 related pieces2026-10-31
Analysis
Analysis
Alaska's Senate Certification Lawsuit Tests Whether Washington Can Pause a State Election
A federal request for a conditional injunction over two similarly named candidates raises a question that reaches beyond one Senate seat: who has authority to delay certification?
2026-08-27
Analysis
Analysis
America's Supreme Court Size Fight Is a Symptom of a Court That Too Many Voters See as Partisan Power
Capping the court at nine or expanding it both miss the deeper legitimacy problem.
2026-10-30
Analysis
Analysis
US Midterm Voting Dispute Puts the Boundary Between Federal and State Power Before a Judge
Days before the 3 November election, a federal court is demanding disclosure of Justice Department letters to state election officials. The issue is authority, evidence and the limits of emergency judicial intervention.
2026-10-02
Analysis
Analysis
Brazil's Election Could Shift Power Beyond the Presidency
Lula is narrowly ahead of Flávio Bolsonaro before the first round, but two-thirds of the Senate is also being elected. The institutional balance after October may matter more than the presidential margin.
2026-09-14
Analysis
Analysis
Trump's Mail-Voting Push Is Less About Fraud Than About Who Gets to Write Election Rules
The fight over postal ballots is becoming a constitutional struggle over federal power dressed up as election integrity.
Primary record
Start with the institution itself
These links provide the formal rules or institutional description underlying this power file. State & Power analysis is kept separate from the primary record.