Supreme Court Rules Against Trump Administration's Tariffs
The Supreme Court ruled against most of President Trump’s tariffs, marking a major legal setback. Here’s what the decision means for trade policy and executive power.
NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?
The Supreme Court struck down most of President Trump's tariffs in a blow to his agenda. In a 6-3 decision, the court ruled that he did not have the authority under an economic emergency law to issue such levies. The president responded, saying he would impose a global 15% tariff under a different law. Geoff Bennett spoke with News Hour Supreme Court analyst and SCOTUSBlog co-founder Amy Howe.
View the transcript of the story.
Key Term
tariff — a tax on imported or exported goods
Warm-Up Questions
- What was the Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's tariffs?
- How did President Trump react to the ruling?
- Who is Amy Howe, and what is her background?
- What open question did the Supreme Court leave in their decision?
- Why is it damaging for the president to attack the Supreme Court, according to Howe?
Essential Questions
- What do you think the impact of the Supreme Court ruling will be on the economy?
- What do you think the impact of the ruling will be on the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government?
- Media literacy: What do you still want to know about the Trump administration's economic policies and why the Supreme Court decided Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional? How could you find out?
What Students Can Do
Watch the following segment featuring the small business owner whose lawsuit led to the Supreme Court decision. Then, as a class, discuss:
- How was Rick Woldenberg's business impacted by the tariffs?
- How will the Supreme Court decision affect his business going forward?
- After watching this segment, do you have a better sense of how tariffs might impact the economy in your own community? How do you think the Supreme Court decision (and Trump's response) might impact your own life?
The Supreme Court: Balancing the Branches Lesson Plans
Share My Lesson has free, tailored preK-12 resources to ensure your students leave your classroom equipped with a deeper knowledge of civics and government to think critically about today's toughest issues.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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