Supreme Court upholds birthright citizenship, issues final rulings of its term

The Supreme Court’s final term rulings affirm birthright citizenship for children born in the U.S., rejecting a presidential executive order that sought to limit this constitutional guarantee. While the court maintained this historic right, it simultaneously expanded executive power and loosened campaign finance restrictions, allowing political parties to coordinate more extensively with candidates and spend freely. Additionally, the court ruled that states may mandate that students participate in high school and college sports based on biological sex, citing concerns over safety and competitive fairness. These decisions reflect a broader judicial trend toward prioritizing First Amendment protections for political spending and a conservative interpretation of federal statutes. Legal expert Kim Whaley notes that while the birthright decision serves as a check on presidential authority, the overall term signals a significant shift toward strengthening the unitary executive and reshaping the political landscape through deregulation.