Yes, the ironic thing is that it's not even clear from the US constitution that the court should have the sweeping powers it has, and it certainly hasn't always

Yes, the ironic thing is that it's not even clear from the US constitution that the court should have the sweeping powers it has, and it certainly hasn't always had them. But like the pope declaring that the pope is infallible, they have decided that they should. And since elected politicians have found it expedient to play along for a long time, now it's not easy for them to go back.