The sudden death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia is raising two big questions in Washington and on the presidential campaign trail. One is about Scalia's potential replacement. The other is focused on how the Court will function with just eight members, as NY1’s Washington D.C. bureau reporter Geoff Bennett explains:

The flags outside the Supreme Court were lowered to half-staff Saturday night, in observance of the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.

President Obama remembered him as a larger-than-life presence on the bench. 

"He will, no doubt, be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court," Obama said while delivering brief remarks Saturday night.

Scalia was the high court’s longest-serving member and a conservative icon.

His sudden death upends the balance of a court that was already narrowly divided along ideological lines.

The opening on the bench is quickly fueling a debate in the 2016 presidential campaign about the importance and urgency of choosing Scalia's successor.

President Obama says he’ll soon nominate a candidate to fill the vacancy.

"Obviously today is a time to remember Justice Scalia’s legacy," Obama said. "I plan to fulfill my constitutional responsibility to nominate a successor in due time. There will be plenty of time for me to do so and for the Senate to fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote."

But winning confirmation in a Republican-controlled Senate during an election year will be tough, if not impossible. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is stopping the process before it even starts. In a statement released Saturday, McConnell said the seat should not be filled until the next president is sworn into office. But it appears Obama isn't backing down.

"These are responsibilities that I take seriously, as should everyone," Obama said.

If no Obama nominee is confirmed this year, that means the Court will end its current term with just eight justices.

The Supreme Court has already heard cases centered on a range of critical issues — including abortion, affirmative action and immigration.

In the event of a 4-to-4 tie on a particular case, the lower court's ruling would stand, underscoring the absence of that deciding vote.