The Constitution's Court System: How It Works

The U.S. Constitution established a federal judiciary system, with the Supreme Court at its apex, and authorized Congress to create a network of lower courts. Article III, Section I of the Constitution states that 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. The Judiciary Act of 1789, enacted by the first Congress, established the Federal court system, outlining the jurisdiction and powers of district and circuit courts, and the roles of federal judges, attorneys, and marshals. The Supreme Court, with its authority to strike down laws violating the Constitution, plays a pivotal role in safeguarding civil rights and liberties and ensuring each branch of government respects its limits. The court system, with its appellate and district courts, provides a mechanism for peacefully resolving disputes and determining the constitutionality of laws.

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The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court

The Constitution of the United States establishes the Supreme Court in Article III, which deals with the judiciary branch of government. Article III, Section I states that "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." This provision establishes the Supreme Court as the highest court in the nation and gives Congress the power to create a lower federal court system.

The Constitution also outlines the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which includes original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states, and appellate jurisdiction over a wide range of cases involving constitutional, federal, and admiralty law. The Supreme Court's authority to hear cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution is of particular importance, as it plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of government respects the limits of its power.

The establishment of the Supreme Court was one of the first tasks undertaken by the new Congress, which passed the Judiciary Act in 1789. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system. The Judiciary Act also addressed questions raised by Article III of the Constitution, which is notably shorter than the articles establishing the legislative and executive branches.

The Supreme Court's role in interpreting the Constitution and protecting civil rights and liberties is essential to the constitutional system of government. The Court has the final say on whether a right is protected by the Constitution and can strike down state laws that violate constitutional rights. The Supreme Court's decisions have a profound impact on society, influencing not just lawyers and judges but also the general public, including high school students.

Congress decides the Supreme Court's organisation

The US Constitution established the Supreme Court, but it permits Congress to decide how to organise it. This power was first exercised in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system. The Act also divided the country into judicial districts, which were organised into circuits. Justices were required to hold circuit court twice a year in their assigned district. This practice of "riding circuit" was often opposed by justices, who found travel difficult and felt there was a potential conflict of interest if they had previously decided the same case. Circuit riding ended in 1901 when the Circuit Court of Appeals Act was passed, and it was officially abolished by Congress in 1911.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States, with ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal court cases and state court cases that turn on questions of federal law. It also has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, such as those involving ambassadors and other public ministers. The Supreme Court's most well-known power is judicial review, or the ability to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. This power was established in the landmark case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803, where the Court asserted itself as the supreme law of the land.

Congress has also specifically authorised one justice to issue a stay pending certiorari. Each justice decides routine procedural requests, such as for extensions of time. The Supreme Court usually only hears cases when there are conflicting decisions across the country on a particular issue or when there is an egregious error in a case. The Court agrees to hear about 100-150 of the more than 7,000 cases it is asked to review each year.

The federal court system has three main levels: district courts (the trial court), circuit courts (the first level of appeal), and the Supreme Court of the United States (the final level of appeal). There are 94 district courts, 13 circuit courts, and one Supreme Court throughout the country. The Supreme Court's decisions have a profound impact on society, with landmark cases such as Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District (1969) holding that students do not shed their rights at the schoolhouse gate.

The Supreme Court has original and appellate jurisdiction

The US Constitution established the Supreme Court and authorized Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. Article III of the Constitution, which deals with the judiciary branch of government, created the Supreme Court and allowed Congress to decide how to organize it.

The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with six justices and also established the lower federal court system. The First Congress decided that it could regulate the jurisdiction of all Federal courts, and in the Judiciary Act of 1789, Congress established a limited jurisdiction for the district and circuit courts.

The Supreme Court was given original jurisdiction provided for in the Constitution, and appellate jurisdiction in cases from the Federal circuit courts and from the state courts where those courts' rulings had rejected Federal claims. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases that involve significant public interest or other unusual circumstances. In these cases, the Supreme Court may allow actions to be commenced in the Supreme Court and may issue mandamus, certiorari, and other extraordinary writs.

The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction in cases from the Federal circuit courts and state courts where Federal claims have been rejected. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is the court of last resort for those seeking justice. The Supreme Court usually only hears cases that have been decided in either an appropriate U.S. Court of Appeals or the highest Court in a given state. The Supreme Court is not obligated to hear these cases and usually only does so if the case could have national significance, might harmonize conflicting decisions in the federal Circuit courts, or could have precedential value.

The Supreme Court has the power of judicial review, which allows it to ensure that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its power. The Supreme Court can strike down laws that violate the Constitution, protecting civil rights and liberties.

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The Supreme Court upholds the limits of government power

The US Constitution established a Supreme Court, with Article III, Section I stating that "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." This article also permits Congress to decide how to organise the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US and is the court of last resort for those seeking justice. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of the government recognises the limits of its power. This is achieved through its power of judicial review, which allows the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. This power was established in the Marbury v. Madison case of 1803, where the Court decided that an Act of Congress contrary to the Constitution could not stand as the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

The Supreme Court also protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution. It ensures that popular majorities cannot pass laws that harm or take advantage of unpopular minorities, thus preserving fundamental values such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law.

The Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states or cases involving ambassadors. It also has appellate jurisdiction over almost any other case involving constitutional or federal law. The Certiorari Act of 1925 grants the Court discretion in deciding whether to hear a case on appeal.

The Supreme Court's decisions have a significant impact on society, shaping the constitutional system of government and upholding the limits of government power.

The Supreme Court protects civil rights and liberties

The Constitution of the United States, in Article III, establishes the federal judiciary, with the Supreme Court at its apex, and permits Congress to decide how to organize it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States.

The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in safeguarding civil rights and liberties. It ensures that each branch of government recognizes its own limitations and that popular majorities do not pass laws that infringe on the rights of unpopular minorities. The Court has the authority to strike down state laws that violate the Constitution, thereby protecting civil rights and liberties.

The Supreme Court has ruled on numerous landmark civil rights cases, including:

• Miranda v. Arizona (1966): The Court ruled that a confession obtained during police interrogation without informing the defendant of their right to an attorney is inadmissible, upholding the Fifth Amendment's protection against self-incrimination.
• Batson v. Kentucky (1986): The Court held that an African American defendant was denied equal protection when tried by a jury from which members of his race were intentionally excluded.
• Roe v. Wade (1973): The Court ruled that a woman's right to abortion is protected by the constitutional right to privacy.
• Grutter v. Bollinger (2003): The Court upheld the constitutionality of a law school's limited use of race in admissions as a form of "affirmative action."
• Lawrence v. Texas (2003): The Court overturned its previous ruling in Bowers v. Hardwick (1986), holding that a state law criminalizing same-sex sodomy violated individual privacy rights.

These rulings have had a profound impact on society, driving fundamental social change and advancing civil rights, women's rights, gay rights, and the rights of criminal defendants, protesters, and the press. The Supreme Court's interpretation and application of the Constitution continue to shape the protection of civil rights and liberties in the United States.

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