unit 6: the federal court system and supreme court decision-making the supreme court
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Unit 6:The Federal Court System and
Supreme Court Decision-Making
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Introduction to the U.S. Supreme Court
Notes:• Created by Article III of
the Constitution, the Supreme Court is the highest body in the American Judicial Branch
• The job of the judicial branch is to interpret the law, which means that the decisions of the Supreme Court regarding the law are final.
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
Notes:• The Supreme Court has
two types of jurisdiction:1. original jurisdiction
(which means it can hear a case for the first time if it chooses to)
2. appellate jurisdiction (it can hear cases that have been appealed from lower courts).
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Original Jurisdiction
Notes:• The Supreme Court
exercises it’s original jurisdiction very little on a yearly basis—usually only hearing cases involving two states that are in dispute with one another, OR if a state is in dispute with the federal government.
• Fewer than 5 original jurisdiction cases a year
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Appellate Jurisdiction
Notes:• The Supreme Court may
choose to hear cases on appeal from a lower federal court OR cases being appealed from state Supreme Courts.
• For state cases, the Supreme Court may only rule on matters of federal law, not any matter affecting the ruling according to a state’s law.
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Supreme Court Justices
Notes:• There are 9 Supreme
Court Justices• 1 Chief Justice and 8
Associate Justices• Congress can change the
number of justices allowed.
• Justices are appointed by the president to serve a “for life” term
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Supreme Court Justices (cont’d.)
Notes:• The Chief Justice makes
$181,400/year.• Associate Justices make
$173,600/year.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Profile of Supreme Court Justices
Notes:• Most Justices over time have• A law degree (not a requirement)• Legal experience• Served as state or federal court
judges or served as a state attorney general
• Not young (most appointed in their 50’s-60’s)
• Most come from upper socioeconomic levels
• Mostly white males (2 African American men, 4 females)
• Most are American-born (6 total born outside of the US and 3 of those were appointed by George Washington)
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Duties of Supreme Court Justices
Notes:• The Constitution does not list
the duties of the Supreme Court—they have evolved through interpretation over time.
• The main duty is to hear and rule on cases.– The Supreme Court’s ruling on
a case is referred to as the Opinion of the Court.
• Justices have limited duties related to the 12 federal judicial circuit
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Duties of Supreme Court Justices (cont’d.)
Notes:• The Chief Justice has
additional duties:– Preside over sessions and
conferences.– Leadership in the Court’s
judicial work.– Helps administer the
federal court system
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Role of Law Clerks
Notes:• Clerks are hired to help
the Supreme Court run smoothly by doing things such as:– Assist Justices with day-to-
day tasks– Draft opinions– Conduct research
The Supreme Court:
Main Idea:Appointing Justices
Notes:• The President appoints justices
and the Senate must approve those appointments.
• Considerations when appointing Justices include:– Acceptability with the Senate– Usually a member of the President’s
political party– Justice’s ideology (what they believe
regarding political issues)– The input of interest groups
• The American Bar Association is usually consulted.
• Other interest groups that lobby for justices that will help advance their cause
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