Jonah Patel
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It is the only federal court explicitly established by the US Constitution, which vests federal judicial power 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 established a six-member Supreme Court composed of a chief justice and five associate justices. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, such as those involving ambassadors and public ministers, and appellate jurisdiction over almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional and/or federal law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Established by | Article III of the US Constitution |
| Type of court | Supreme Court |
| Position in judiciary | Highest court in the federal judiciary of the US |
| Judges | One Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices |
| Appointment of judges | Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate |
| Tenure of judges | Life term |
| Jurisdiction | Original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, including suits between two or more states and cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers; appellate jurisdiction in almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional and/or federal law |
| Powers | Judicial review, or the ability to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution |
| Number of justices | Nine |
| Location | Based in the nation's capital |
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What You'll Learn
The Supreme Court is the highest court
Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the US federal government. Under Article III, the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court and lower courts created by Congress. Article III, Section I states:
> "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 Constitution does not specify the size of the Supreme Court or the positions of its members. However, it assumes the existence of the office of the chief justice as it mentions "the Chief Justice" in Article I, Section 3, Clause 6.
The First Congress provided the detailed organisation of a federal judiciary through the Judiciary Act of 1789. They decided that the Supreme Court, as the country's highest judicial tribunal, would be based in the nation's capital and would be composed of a chief justice and five associate justices. The Judiciary 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 judicial district.
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Congress established a Federal court system
The US Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government, with Article III vesting federal judicial power in "one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
The Constitution does not specify the size of the Supreme Court or the positions of its members. Instead, it assumes the existence of the office of the Chief Justice, as mentioned in Article I, Section 3, Clause 6. The power to define the Supreme Court's size and membership has been assumed to belong to Congress, which initially established a six-member Supreme Court through the Judiciary Act of 1789.
The Supreme Court is the only federal court explicitly established by the Constitution. However, Article III, Section I of the Constitution permits Congress to decide how to organize it and create inferior (lower) courts. The Judiciary Act of 1789, signed by President Washington, established a Federal court system with a Supreme Court of six justices and a lower federal court system.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 also established the Supreme Court's original jurisdiction, as provided for in the Constitution, and its appellate jurisdiction in cases from federal circuit courts and state courts. Congress decided that the Supreme Court, as the country's highest judicial tribunal, would be based in the nation's capital. The Act also divided the country into judicial districts, which were then organized into circuits. Justices were required to hold circuit court twice a year in their assigned judicial district.
The Supreme Court's best-known power is judicial review, 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. The Court has the final say over when a right is protected by the Constitution or when a Constitutional right is violated. As the highest court in the land, it is the court of last resort for those seeking justice.
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The Constitution establishes the judiciary branch
Article III, Section 1 of the Constitution vests the judicial power of the United States in "one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." This means that while the Supreme Court is explicitly established by the Constitution, Congress has the power to create lower federal courts as needed.
The First Congress established the federal court system through the Judiciary Act of 1789, which provided the detailed organisation of the judiciary. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system. The Judiciary Act also divided the country into judicial districts, which were organised into circuits, and granted the Supreme Court original and appellate jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and acts as the court of last resort for those seeking justice. It has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, such as those involving ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state is a party. In all other cases, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction.
The Supreme Court also has the power of 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. The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of government recognises its own limits and that Constitutional rights are upheld.
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The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the US Constitution. The Constitution establishes the federal judiciary in Article III, which vests the judicial power of the United States in "one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
While the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it does not specify the size of the Court or the positions of its members. Instead, it leaves the power to define the Court's size and membership to Congress, which initially established a six-member Supreme Court through the Judiciary Act of 1789. The Judiciary Act also gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction in certain cases, such as those involving ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state is a party.
In addition to its original jurisdiction, the Supreme Court also has appellate jurisdiction, which means that the Court can hear cases on appeal from lower courts. The Court has appellate jurisdiction over almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional or federal law. The Court's appellate jurisdiction extends to all cases arising under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made under their authority.
The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the constitutional system of government. As the highest court in the land, it is the court of last resort for those seeking justice. The Court's power of judicial review, established in the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803, allows it to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. This power ensures that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power.
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The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction
The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases, and over state court cases that turn on questions of U.S. constitutional or federal law. The Supreme Court has the power to decide appeals on all cases brought in federal court or those brought in state court but dealing with federal law.
The Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction was established by Article III of the Constitution and further defined by the Judiciary Act of 1789. Article III, Section 1 vests the judicial power of the United States in "one supreme Court" and "inferior courts" established by Congress. Section 2 of Article III gives the Supreme Court original jurisdiction when ambassadors, public officials, or the states are a party to the case, and appellate jurisdiction in all other areas to which the federal judiciary's jurisdiction extends. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established a six-member Supreme Court composed of a chief justice and five associate justices. The Act also gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction as provided for in the Constitution and granted the Court appellate jurisdiction in cases from the federal circuit courts and state courts where those courts' rulings had rejected federal claims.
The Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction has been further shaped by significant cases such as Marbury v. Madison (1803), which established the Court's power of judicial review, or the ability to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. The Court has also established its authority to strike down state laws found to be in violation of the Constitution, ensuring that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its power.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution established the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It has the power to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution (judicial review). It also has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, such as those involving ambassadors, and appellate jurisdiction in almost all other cases.
There is currently one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. The number of justices has varied over the years, from a low of five to a high of 10.
Like other federal judges, justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They typically hold office for life and their salaries cannot be decreased during their term.
