History of The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of the United States exists as a requirement of the Constitution. Specifically Article III, Section 1 states
Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President and confirmed (or not) by Congress. A president selects a potential justice that assumedly will follow the same political agenda as the president and his party. This strategy does not always work. An appointment to the Supreme Court is for life, and therefore removes the conflict of favoring a decision based on an agenda. A Justice does not lose his or her standing based on decisions. This allows the court to stay true to its mission of preserving the Constitution.
The court consists of eight associate justices and one chief justice. As there are nine justices involved in voting on cases, there is always a majority decision. Some cases are decided on a tight vote of 5-4, others might by unanimous with all justices voting on the same side of a decision. The first session was held on February 2, 1790. John Jay was the first chief justice. He was appointed by President George Washington on September 24, 1789. The Senate confirmed the appointment two days later.
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The judicial power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.Further, the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court is defined in Article III, Section 2 of the Constition:
The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; — to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; — to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; — to controversies to which the United States shall be a party; — to controversies between two or more states; — between a state and citizens of another state;8 — between citizens of different states; — between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects.The Supreme Court is the top legal body in judicial branch of the U.S. Government triad of balance - the judiciary branch, legislative branch (Congress), and executive branch (the President). The Supreme Court's primary purpose is to see that the Constitution is preserved and followed. The decisions made by the court are based on interpretations of the Constitution. The decisions often stir controversy and have a great affect on the activities of the government and citizens of the United States. Some decisions have changed the entire direction of the country, such as the end of segregation (Brown v. the Board of Education); the right to an abortion (Roe v. Wade); the right to remain silent, and to have an attorney (Miranda v. Arizona); and even who won a presidential election (Bush v. Gore).
Supreme Court Justices are appointed by the President and confirmed (or not) by Congress. A president selects a potential justice that assumedly will follow the same political agenda as the president and his party. This strategy does not always work. An appointment to the Supreme Court is for life, and therefore removes the conflict of favoring a decision based on an agenda. A Justice does not lose his or her standing based on decisions. This allows the court to stay true to its mission of preserving the Constitution.
The court consists of eight associate justices and one chief justice. As there are nine justices involved in voting on cases, there is always a majority decision. Some cases are decided on a tight vote of 5-4, others might by unanimous with all justices voting on the same side of a decision. The first session was held on February 2, 1790. John Jay was the first chief justice. He was appointed by President George Washington on September 24, 1789. The Senate confirmed the appointment two days later.
Read more: