The Supreme Court on Monday grappled with which branch’s powers independent executive agencies exert, as the justices weighed whether President Donald Trump may fire a Democrat-appointed Federal Trade Commission member without cause.

The justices heard arguments in Trump v. Slaughter on Monday morning. The lengthy arguments focused on whether the FTC, and similar multi-person-headed agencies created by Congress , exerts the power of the executive branch, the legislative branch, or a combination of both, and whether a president can be barred from firing at-will a head of one of those agencies.

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