Simone Lawson
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is established by Article III, Section I of the Constitution. The Constitution also permits Congress to decide how to organise the Supreme Court, which it first did in the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, which ensures that each branch of government recognises the limits of its own power. It also protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution. The Supreme Court has the final say over when a right is protected by the Constitution or when a Constitutional right is violated.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Original and appellate |
| Judges | Hold office during good behaviour and receive compensation that cannot be diminished during their continuance in office |
| Number of justices | Six, as established by the Judiciary Act of 1789; the number has varied from five to 10, and is now fixed at nine |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court
The Constitution also gives the Supreme Court appellate jurisdiction, meaning that the Court has the authority to review the decisions of lower courts. Most of the cases the Supreme Court hears are appeals from lower courts.
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction (legal ability to hear a case) of the Supreme Court. The Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and/or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers. The Court has appellate jurisdiction on almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional and/or federal law.
The Constitution also permits Congress to decide how to organise the Supreme Court. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices. It also established the lower federal court system. Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, from a low of five to a high of 10. Shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats on the Court was fixed at nine, which remains the case today.
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It permits Congress to decide how to organise it
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, but it also permits Congress to decide how to organise it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices. This Act also established the lower federal court system.
Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, from a low of five to a high of 10. Shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats on the Court was fixed at nine, which is the number of seats it has today. There is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court.
The Constitution also states that the Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court is the first, and only, Court to hear a case. The Constitution limits original jurisdiction cases to those involving disputes between the states or disputes arising among ambassadors and other high-ranking ministers.
Appellate jurisdiction means that the Court has the authority to review the decisions of lower courts. Most of the cases the Supreme Court hears are appeals from lower courts. Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of a lower court must petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case.
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The Constitution gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, giving it the legal ability to hear a case. The Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and/or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers.
The Constitution also permits Congress to decide how to organise the Supreme Court. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices.
The judicial power of the United States is vested in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress may establish. The judges of both the Supreme and inferior courts hold office during good behaviour and receive compensation for their services, which cannot be diminished during their continuance in office.
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The Constitution gives the Supreme Court appellate jurisdiction
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, but it permits Congress to decide how to organise it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices. Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, from a low of five to a high of 10. Today, there is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court.
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction (legal ability to hear a case) of the Supreme Court. The Court has original jurisdiction (a case is tried before the Court) over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and/or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers. The Court has appellate jurisdiction (the Court can hear the case on appeal) on almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional and/or federal law.
The Constitution limits original jurisdiction cases to those involving disputes between the states or disputes arising among ambassadors and other high-ranking ministers. Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of a lower court must petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case.
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The Constitution ensures judges hold their offices during good behaviour
The Constitution ensures that judges hold their offices during good behaviour. This means that judges can only be removed from their positions if they behave improperly. This is a way of protecting the independence of the judiciary and ensuring that judges are free to make decisions without fear of reprisal.
Article III, Section I of the Constitution establishes and empowers the judicial branch of the national government. It states that the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress may establish. This means that the Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and has the final say on matters of law.
The Constitution also limits the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to cases involving disputes between states or disputes arising among ambassadors and other high-ranking ministers. This means that the Supreme Court is the first and only court to hear these types of cases. Most of the cases the Supreme Court hears are appeals from lower courts.
The Constitution further permits Congress to decide how to organise the Supreme Court. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices. Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, and today there is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
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Frequently asked questions
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court and gives it both original and appellate jurisdiction.
Original jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court is the first, and only, Court to hear a case. The Constitution limits original jurisdiction cases to those involving disputes between the states or disputes arising among ambassadors and other high-ranking ministers.
Appellate jurisdiction means that the Supreme Court has the authority to review the decisions of lower courts.
The Constitution states that the judicial power of the United States shall be vested in one Supreme Court, and that the judges of the Supreme Court shall hold their offices during good behaviour. It also establishes that the judges shall receive compensation for their services, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.
Yes, the Constitution permits Congress to decide how to organise the Supreme Court. Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, from a low of five to a high of 10. Shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats on the Court was fixed at nine, which is the current number.
