
The Supreme Court is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the US Constitution. Article III of the Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the US federal government, which includes the Supreme Court and lower courts created by Congress. The Judiciary Act of 1789, passed by the First Congress, established the composition and procedures of the Supreme Court, giving it six justices and creating a limited jurisdiction for the district and circuit courts. The Supreme Court has the highest authority in the land and plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of the government recognises the limits of its power.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Supreme Court |
| Established by | Article III of the United States Constitution |
| Year established | 1789 |
| Act | Judiciary Act |
| Number of justices | 6 (originally) |
| Current number of justices | 9 |
| Roles | Highest court in the land, court of last resort, protector of civil rights and liberties, setter of limits on democratic government |
| Jurisdiction | Original and appellate |
| Treason definition | "Levying War" against the United States, or "adhering to their Enemies", giving "Aid and Comfort" |
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What You'll Learn
- The Supreme Court is the only federal court established by the Constitution
- Article III, Section I of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court
- Congress can decide how to organise the Supreme Court
- The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with six justices
- The Judiciary Act of 1789 established a Federal court system

The Supreme Court is the only federal court established by the Constitution
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 Constitution. Article III, Section I of the Constitution vests the judicial power of the United States in "one supreme Court", as well as "inferior courts" established by Congress.
The Supreme Court 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. It also has appellate jurisdiction over all U.S. federal court cases and state court cases that involve questions of U.S. constitutional or federal law.
The composition and procedures of the Supreme Court were originally established by the 1st Congress through the Judiciary Act of 1789. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices, as well as 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 ten. Since 1869, shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats has been fixed at nine, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the constitutional system of government. It is the court of last resort for those seeking justice, and it has the power of judicial review, ensuring that each branch of government recognizes its limits. The Court also protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution and setting limits on democratic government to safeguard the fundamental values common to all Americans.
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Article III, Section I of the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court
Article III, Section I of the US Constitution establishes the Supreme Court. It 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 section is one of the three vesting clauses of the Constitution, which vests the judicial power of the United States in federal courts. It requires the existence of a supreme court and allows for the creation of inferior courts.
The Supreme Court is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the Constitution. During the Constitutional Convention, a proposal was made for the Supreme Court to be the only federal court with both original and appellate jurisdiction. However, this proposal was rejected in favour of the current provision, which enables Congress to create inferior or lower courts under Article III, Section 1, and Article I, Section 8.
The Article III courts, also known as "constitutional courts", were first created by the Judiciary Act of 1789 and are the only courts with judicial power. This Act established a Supreme Court with six justices and also created the lower federal court system. Congress has the power to decide how to organise the Supreme Court, and over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Court. Today, there is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court.
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. It has the power of judicial review, ensuring that each branch of government recognises its limits. The Court also protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution and setting limits on democratic government, ensuring that popular majorities cannot pass laws that harm minorities.
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states or cases involving ambassadors, and appellate jurisdiction on almost any other case involving constitutional or federal law.
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Congress can decide how to organise the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the US Constitution. Article III, Section I of the Constitution, which establishes the federal judiciary, 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 gives Congress the power 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 Act also established the lower federal court system and gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction provided for in the Constitution, as well as appellate jurisdiction in cases from the federal circuit courts and state courts where federal claims had been rejected.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 was passed in response to the generality of Article III of the Constitution, which raised questions that required political solutions. By passing the Act, Congress established a limited jurisdiction for the district and circuit courts and granted the Supreme Court its constitutional jurisdiction.
Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, ranging from a low of five to a high of 10. Shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats was fixed at nine, which remains the current number. Today, the Supreme Court consists of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
In addition to organising the Supreme Court, Congress also has the power to create inferior or lower courts under Article III, Section 1, and Article I, Section 8. These Article III courts, also known as "constitutional courts", are the only courts with judicial power. In contrast, Article I courts, or "legislative courts", consist of regulatory agencies such as the United States Tax Court.
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The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with six justices
The United States Constitution establishes the Supreme Court as the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. 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."
Article III, which deals with the judiciary branch of government, is notably shorter than Articles I and II, which outline the legislative and executive branches, respectively. This brevity left many questions unanswered, and it was left to Congress to address these issues in the Judiciary Act of 1789.
The Supreme Court's original jurisdiction includes cases involving suits between two or more states, cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers, and those in which a state is a party. The Court's appellate jurisdiction extends to almost any case involving a point of constitutional or federal law, including cases where the United States is a party, those involving treaties, and those concerning ships on the high seas or navigable waterways (admiralty cases).
The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the constitutional system of government. As the highest court in the land, it serves as the final arbiter for those seeking justice. Additionally, its power of judicial review ensures that each branch of government respects the limits of its power. The Court also protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution and setting limits on democratic government to safeguard the fundamental values of all Americans.
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The Judiciary Act of 1789 established a Federal court system
The Judiciary Act of 1789, signed by President Washington, established a Federal court system. The Act was passed by the First Congress, which decided it could regulate the jurisdiction of all Federal courts. The Judiciary Act of 1789 established a Supreme Court with six justices, as well as the lower federal court system. The Supreme Court was granted original jurisdiction, as provided for in the Constitution, and appellate jurisdiction in cases from the Federal circuit courts and state courts.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 addressed questions raised by Article III of the Constitution, which deals with the judiciary branch of government. Article III establishes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, including original jurisdiction over certain cases and appellate jurisdiction over almost any case involving a point of constitutional or federal law.
The founders of the new nation believed that establishing a national judiciary was one of their most important tasks. The Federal court system created in 1789 closely resembled the system that was in place for nearly the next century. The judicial system only underwent major changes after the country had expanded across a continent and been torn apart by civil war.
The Supreme Court is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the Constitution. The Court has the power to strike down state laws found to be in violation of the Constitution, as well as to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Constitution. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and plays an important role in 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 under Article III.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US and has the final say on whether a right is protected by the Constitution or when a Constitutional right has been violated. It also ensures that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its power.
The Supreme Court consists of nine justices—the chief justice and eight associate justices.




















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