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183As we have explored, both Congress and the president have the power to shape national public policy. Congress writes the laws, and it has the%u00a0power to tax and to fund programs. The president executes the laws of the nation and is the commander in chief of the armed forces. Congress and the presidency, with their elected officers, are perceived as the political branches of the government. Federal judges, however, are not elected, and because they serve for life, they don%u2019t face political consequences at the ballot%u00a0box. On the other hand, the process of being nominated for the position is political, and, once in office, judges pass judgment on issues that have political implications. When the federal judiciary chooses to involve itself%u00a0in political controversies, it risks harming its legitimacy with the American public. Photo by Fred Schilling/UPI/Alamy Stock Photo The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and has the power of judicial review. In this formal photo, the justices%u2019 robes convey the dignity of their position while their smiles convey collegiality, despite their differing viewpoints. 6 The Federal Judiciary Politics, Power, and the %u201cLeast Dangerous%u201d Branch %u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.