From abortion, to gun rights and religious freedom -- in recent weeks, the US Supreme Court has voted in a series of major rulings, affecting the lives of millions of Americans.
It is a small, yet powerful group of justices... but what exactly does the Supreme Court do and how does it work?
World News Editor, Kate Gregan explains more.
As the highest court in the US - the Supreme Court is often the final word on highly contentious laws, and disputes between states and the federal government.
It hears fewer than 100 cases a year -- and the key announcements are often made in June, before the court's summer break.
Britannica editor, Brian Duignan explains how they decide what cases to take on.
"Almost all cases they decide themselves.
"They hold regular conferences at which they decide among the thousands and thousands of petitions they receive which they will accept.
"It takes at least four justices in favour to schedule a case for argument."
There are nine justices on the bench -- currently with a 6-3 conservative majority -- and they can serve after being nominated by the president and approved by the Senate.
The most recent member is Ketanji Brown Jackson - she was sworn in as the court’s 116th justice last week, making history as the first Black woman to serve on the high court.
Since the court was established in 1789, it has primarily granted more freedoms to Americans.
In 1973, the court declared women the right to have an abortion, in 2015, the court expanded gay marriage to all 50 states.... but during Donald Trump's term, he appointed three conservative justices, changing the political balance.
Those three justices all voted to overturn Roe v Wade, reversing that landmark 1973 abortion ruling.
Supreme Court justices serve for life.
Jerry Goldman is a Political Science professor at Northwestern University - he told the BBC that once a justice is sworn in - it's very difficult to remove them.
"The Justices under the constitution are to serve during good behaviour which has come to mean as long as they like.
"The only way under our constitution to remove a sitting justice would be to impeach him or her."
Only one Supreme Court justice has been successfully impeached - that was Samuel Chase in 1804... but he was acquitted by the Senate and remained on the court until his death.
