What is the rule of Klein?

Asked by: Kaelyn Purdy DDS  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.7/5 (44 votes)

The "Rule of Klein," from the 1871 Supreme Court case United States v. Klein, establishes that Congress cannot impair the judicial branch's independence or the executive's pardon power by dictating the "rule of decision" in pending cases, thus upholding the separation of powers; it means Congress can't tell courts how to rule on specific facts or invalidate pardons, even if it controls jurisdiction. Essentially, Congress can't use its legislative power to predetermine court outcomes or interfere with the President's constitutional authority.

What does the Supreme Court ruling on TikTok mean?

The ban was designed to prevent Americans from using TikTok starting in January 2025 unless TikTok's China-based corporate owner, ByteDance Inc, sold its U.S. subsidiary before then. Many first amendment advocates and scholars—including the two of us—expected the Court to be intensely suspicious of the law.

Does the USA follow the rule of law?

Yes, the U.S. is founded on the principle of the rule of law, meaning everyone, including the government and its leaders, must obey the law, which is based on the Constitution and applied equally, impartially, and with due process, although its practical application faces challenges and ongoing debate, with some reports indicating a decline in recent years. 

What does article 7 of the US Constitution say?

Article VII of the U.S. Constitution is about the ratification process, stating that nine of the thirteen states needed to approve it through special state conventions for the Constitution to become the law of the land, replacing the Articles of Confederation. It established the conditions for the new government to take effect and included the date the Constitution was signed (September 17, 1787). 

Can Congress eliminate a federal court?

it would be anomalous for the Constitution to provide that, once a court was established, Congress could never eliminate it. Historical practice suggests that Congress may abolish lower federal courts, though the Constitution may limit its ability to unseat current federal judges in doing so.

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31 related questions found

Can the President overturn a Supreme Court ruling?

No, the President cannot directly overturn a Supreme Court decision; only the Court itself (through a new ruling), the Constitution (via amendment), or new legislation by Congress can overturn a major ruling, though Presidents can try to influence future decisions by appointing new justices or challenge rulings through appeals, and historically, some have selectively enforced or ignored certain rulings, as seen with Lincoln and the Dred Scott case. 

Can the President get rid of a federal judge?

No, the President cannot remove a federal judge; federal judges have lifetime appointments and can only be removed through the impeachment process, where the House of Representatives impeaches (charges) them, and the Senate convicts them by a two-thirds majority vote, typically for "high Crimes and Misdemeanors". This constitutional design ensures judicial independence from the executive and legislative branches, guaranteeing judges serve during "good Behavior". 

Is God mentioned in the US Constitution?

No, the U.S. Constitution does not explicitly mention God, Jesus, or Christianity; its framework is secular, focusing on governmental structure, though it mentions "religion" in the First Amendment to protect religious freedom and prohibit an established religion. The only divine reference is in the signing date, "in the Year of our Lord," a common phrase of the era, not a theological statement, notes TCU Magazine.
 

What does the 14th Amendment say?

The 14th Amendment defines U.S. citizenship (birthright citizenship), guarantees all citizens "equal protection of the laws," and ensures states can't deprive anyone of "life, liberty, or property, without due process of law," incorporating fundamental rights against states, and also disqualifies rebels from office. It was crucial for civil rights, extending federal protections to formerly enslaved people and ensuring equality under the law. 

What was the United States called before?

Before being called the "United States of America," the colonies were known as the "United Colonies," a term officially adopted on September 9, 1776, by the Continental Congress, replacing "United Colonies" in official documents to reflect their new status as independent states. Before that, they were simply the Thirteen Colonies, British territories with varying names like "United Colonies of North America," reflecting their separate administration but shared struggle for independence. 

What is the oldest U.S. law still in effect?

An Act to regulate the Time and Manner of administering certain Oaths was the first law passed by the United States Congress after the ratification of the U.S. Constitution. It was signed by President George Washington on June 1, 1789, and parts of it remain in effect to this day.

What country has the best legal system?

Denmark, Norway, and Sweden have highly transparent and well-functioning legal systems that emphasize equality and justice. Germany is recognized for its strong constitutional protections and a well-organized judiciary, while the United Kingdom has a long-standing common law system that influences many other countries.

Can you have a democracy without rule of law?

He argues that while it is possible to have rule of law without democracy, democracy is dependent on the existence of the rule of law.

Why is Trump not banning TikTok?

Reportedly, after White House advisers persuaded him to hold off on banning TikTok outright because of the possible legal and political repercussions, Trump subsequently agreed to put a 45-day hold on any action against TikTok to allow ByteDance to divest the platform to Microsoft or, should a deal with the tech ...

What's the 3 second rule on TikTok?

The TikTok 3-second rule means you have only the first three seconds of a video to hook a viewer before they scroll away, a critical window for capturing attention to boost watch time and algorithm favorability, requiring creators to use strong visuals, surprising openings, or immediate value to stop the scroll. If you don't immediately engage users in this short timeframe, they're likely to miss your content, impacting its potential to go viral or be pushed to more users.
 

Who owns TikTok in the US?

TikTok's US operations are moving towards being majority-owned by a consortium of American investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, following a deal with its Chinese parent company ByteDance to avoid a US ban, with ByteDance retaining a significant minority stake (around 20%) in the new US joint venture. This new entity, set to be controlled by these mostly American investors, will manage TikTok's US business, aiming to address national security concerns about data.
 

Which Amendment gives the right to overthrow the government?

“From the floor of the House of Representatives to Truth Social, my GOP colleagues routinely assert that the Second Amendment is about 'the ability to maintain an armed rebellion against the government if that becomes necessary,' that it was 'designed purposefully to empower the people to be able to resist the force of ...

Who is not protected by the 14th Amendment?

Not only did the 14th Amendment fail to extend the Bill of Rights to the states; it also failed to protect the rights of Black citizens. A legacy of Reconstruction was the determined struggle of Black and White citizens to make the promise of the 14th Amendment a reality.

What is the Article 4 Section 4?

Section 4 Republican Form of Government

The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against domestic Violence.

What did Albert Einstein say about Jesus?

Though Jewish, Albert Einstein expressed deep admiration for Jesus Christ, calling him a "luminous figure" whose personality "pulsates in every word" of the Gospels, acknowledging Jesus's historical existence and his profound, "divine" teachings, even if some sayings echoed earlier prophets, while advocating for a purified Christianity stripped of priestly dogma, focusing on Jesus's ethical message for humanity.
 

Did all 613 laws come from God?

Yes, the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism are traditionally considered to have been given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, forming the core of the Torah, though the Bible doesn't explicitly state the number 613; Jewish tradition, particularly Maimonides' work, compiled and enumerated them from the texts of the Torah, with the Ten Commandments serving as a summary of these broader laws. The exact list and interpretation vary, with some laws being ceremonial, moral, or judicial, and not all are applicable today. 

What did Benjamin Franklin say about Jesus?

Benjamin Franklin admired Jesus's moral teachings, calling His system "the best the world ever saw," but had doubts about His divinity, though he didn't dogmatize on the matter, focusing instead on Jesus's ethics of doing good as exemplified in his own 13 virtues, blending classical wisdom with Christian principles for a practical, virtuous life. He valued the actions and morals of Jesus (like humility) over strict dogma, seeing revealed religion as less important than virtuous conduct for societal good.
 

Who can the President not remove from office?

The holding in Myers boils down to the proposition that the Constitution endows the President with an illimitable power to remove all officers in whose appointment he has participated, with the exception of federal judges.

Why couldn't Obama appoint a Supreme Court justice?

With the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016 in the beginning of a presidential election year, the Republican majority in the Senate made it their stated policy to refuse to consider any nominee to the Supreme Court, arguing that the next president should be the one to appoint Scalia's replacement.

Can Trump appoint Supreme Court judges?

As of January 8, 2026 the United States Senate has confirmed 261 Article III judges nominated by Trump: three associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, 60 judges for the United States courts of appeals, 195 judges for the United States district courts, and three judges for the United States Court of ...