The decisions of justices have "altered behavior of political and governmental officials as well as a man walking down the street"(Miller 4). To understand the role of the Supreme Court in the American system then one must pay attention to the social impact of court decisions. "The supreme court has assumed the task (of)...enforcing a law known to all, of deciding what law ought to be and making any changes called for" (Knight 1). Decisions are made by the Justices from conflicting principles not because of the law, but because of an evaluation of what impact the decision will have on American society.
The Supreme Court has had a greater important impact then any other government institution on society as a whole. The decisions have affected people's behavior as individuals and social institutions such as the family and economy (Baum 318). The decisions of the Supreme Court justices have "affected the social behavior of people by influencing...(their) thinking and the structures in which they operate"(Baum 319).
"Change is the primary characteristic of American Society" (Miller 4). Change must also exist in American law. As society progresses and changes, the Court must address injustices as a result of change and determine criteria for a particular decision (Miller 5). As stated earlier, the Supreme Court decisions have initiated both political and social change (Baum 319). The