As Biden proposes overhaul of Supreme Court, how did we get here?

For years, a storm has been brewing at the Supreme Court.

Unpopular rulings led by the court’s conservative majority, overturning decades-old legal precedents, and allegations of ethical misconduct has seen approval ratings for the court plummet among Americans.

As the court has ruled to remove federal protections for abortion, effectively overturned affirmative action and more, increasing numbers of people have demand greater transparency from the nine justices.

In an effort to rein in the court,lawmakers have suggested legislation, and even threatened impeachment, to hold the justices accountable.

Now, President Joe Biden is set to propose a major overhaul including term limits for justices and an enforceable code of ethics on the institution.

The Supreme Court was formed as part of the Constitution in 1787. But the Constitution did not explicitly give the court the power it is known to have today to review legislation, or actions taken by the president.

The Constitution did establish several “checks”, however. The president nominates judges to the bench but they must be approved by Congress.

Congress also has the power to pass legislation that limits or changes the court’s structure and rulings. But that hasn’t happened in a long time, even after multiple scandals.

Last year, ProPublica investigations revealed that conservative Justice Clarence Thomas has accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of luxury vacations, private travel and tuition for his great-nephew from Republican megadonor Harlan Crow for more than two decades– and never disclosed it.

Conservative Justice Samuel Alito took a luxury vacation with a Republican donor who had business interest in a case before the court but did not disclose it.