Doctrine of Acts of State

 

What are your thoughts on the "doctrine of acts of state" (or the political question doctrine)?

Even when the judiciary issues a ruling, the executive branch—or, for that matter, any defendant—might simply choose to ignore it (especially when there are no stipulated penalties for non-compliance).

I believe the judiciary should fulfill its role by issuing rulings; to dismiss a matter as an "act of state" essentially amounts to the death of the judiciary, doesn't it?

I can see the merit in the argument that the separation of powers is a piece of collective wisdom—a human societal construct designed to uphold democracy.

In the United States, the Supreme Court has an odd number of justices, who are often aligned with either the Republican or Democratic parties. Why not have an even number?

Ultimately, you cannot move forward without a clear-cut resolution. Even if justices lean toward the Republican or Democratic camps, the final decision should still rest upon their individual consciences. Could you provide some examples where this has been the case?