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Supreme Court

Before learning about The Supreme Court of the United States in class and then researching it more on my own I truthfully knew very little about one the world's most powerful courts. Following my research these were the most important details I learned:


The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has the power of judicial review, the ability to declare laws or government actions unconstitutional. The Court is made up of nine justices: the Chief Justice of the United States and eight associate justices.

The Supreme Court primarily hears cases on appeal from lower federal courts and state supreme courts. This means that the Court typically does not hear a case until it has been through the lower courts, and it only has the power to review the legal issues raised in the case, not to re-try the facts of the case.

When the Court hears a case, the nine justices meet in a private conference to discuss the case and to vote on whether to grant review. If four justices vote in favor of granting review, the case will be scheduled for oral argument, where the parties to the case will present their arguments to the Court and answer questions from the justice. After oral argument, the justice will again meet in a private conference to discuss the case and to vote on the legal issues presented.

The Court's decisions are binding on all lower courts and have a profound impact on American law and society. Some of the Court's most famous decisions have dealt with issues such as civil rights, abortion, and campaign finance.

In addition to its role as the final arbiter of the law, the Supreme Court also has significant administrative responsibilities. The Chief Justice serves as the head of the federal court system, and the Court is responsible for establishing rules and procedures for the lower federal courts to follow.

Overall, the Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the American legal system and its decisions have a profound impact on American law and society.


Sources:

-Youtube Video Presented In Class

“About the Supreme Court.” United States Courts, https://www.uscourts.gov/about-federal-courts/educational-resources/about-educational-outreach/activity-resources/about. 

“The Judicial Branch.” The White House, The United States Government, 12 July 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/our-government/the-judicial-branch/. 


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