Malcolm Rivera
The Supreme Court is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the US Constitution. Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary and outlines the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. It grants Congress the power to establish inferior or lower courts, which are also known as constitutional courts. These courts include federal district and appellate courts, as well as non-Article III tribunals or legislative courts, such as the US Tax Court. The Supreme Court has interpreted Article III as enabling Congress to create inferior courts under its provisions, and Congress has periodically exercised this power to create different federal tribunals that adjudicate a range of legal disputes.
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution established one federal court: the Supreme Court
Article III, Section I of the Constitution 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."
This section vests the federal judicial power in the Supreme Court and authorises Congress to create inferior or lower courts. The Constitution does not require the creation of inferior courts, but it does allow Congress to establish them. Congress first used 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 has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers. It also has appellate jurisdiction over almost any other case involving constitutional or federal law. The Court's most well-known power is judicial review, which is the ability to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. This power was established in the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803.
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. Its power of judicial review ensures that each branch of government recognises its own limits.
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Congress created a Supreme Court with six justices in 1789
The US Constitution established one federal court: the US Supreme Court. 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 of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary and grants Congress the power to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. The Constitution also permits Congress to decide how to organize 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. The Supreme Court was established as a tribunal with six justices who were to serve until death or retirement. President George Washington nominated John Jay to preside as chief justice, and John Rutledge, William Cushing, John Blair, Robert Harrison, and James Wilson to be associate justices. On September 26, 1789, all six appointments were confirmed by the US Senate.
Over the years, the number of seats on the Supreme Court has varied, 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.
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The Supreme Court has original and appellate jurisdiction
The Supreme Court is the only federal court established by the US Constitution. Article III, Section I of the Constitution 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."
Article III establishes the federal judiciary and gives Congress the power to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and cases involving ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls. This means that these cases are tried before the Court for the first time, rather than being appealed from a lower court.
The Supreme Court also has appellate jurisdiction, which means it can hear cases on appeal from lower courts. This jurisdiction applies to almost any case involving a point of constitutional or federal law. For example, the Court can hear cases involving treaties, ships on the high seas, and controversies to which the United States is a party. When exercising its appellate jurisdiction, the Court has the discretion to decide whether or not to hear a case, except in a few specific situations.
The Supreme Court's interpretation of the Constitution and federal laws plays a crucial role in shaping the nation's legal landscape. It has the authority to strike down laws that it finds to be in violation of the Constitution, ensuring that the country's laws adhere to the foundational principles laid out in the Constitution.
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The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. It is the only federal court that is explicitly established by the Constitution. Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary and outlines the structure of the Supreme Court. 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 authorizes Congress to create lower courts, known as Article III courts or "constitutional courts", which are the only courts with judicial power.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states, and cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls. It also has appellate jurisdiction over a wide range of cases involving constitutional, federal, and state law. The Court's interpretation of Article III has led to the development of rules of justiciability, such as prohibitions on advisory opinions and requirements of standing and ripeness.
Congress first established the Supreme Court and the lower federal court system through the Judiciary Act of 1789. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices. Over time, the number of seats on the Supreme Court has varied, but since shortly after the Civil War, it has been fixed at nine justices, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices.
The Supreme Court's role within the US government is significant. It operates as one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government, alongside the legislative and executive branches. This system of checks and balances ensures that no one branch holds superior power, and the Supreme Court has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve disputes involving federal law.
The Supreme Court's decisions have shaped the interpretation of the Constitution and established its authority over other branches of government. For example, in Muskrat v. United States (1911), the Court denied jurisdiction to a case that it deemed was not an actual controversy, demonstrating its discretion in selecting cases. The Court has also established its power to strike down state laws found to be in violation of the Constitution. These rulings reinforce the Supreme Court's position as the highest court in the US legal system.
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The Supreme Court has nine justices in total
The Supreme Court is the only federal court explicitly established by the US Constitution. Article III of the Constitution, which establishes the judiciary as one of the three separate branches of the federal government, created the Supreme Court and authorised Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts.
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."
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. 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. After the Civil War, the number of seats was fixed at nine, where it remains today. There is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and 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.
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Frequently asked questions
The US Constitution created only one federal court: the US Supreme Court.
Article III, Section I of the Constitution 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 Supreme Court has the power to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other cases involving federal laws. It has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states and cases involving ambassadors. The Court also has appellate jurisdiction on almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional and/or federal law.
The Constitution authorizes Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. Congress has established federal district and appellate courts and structured the Supreme Court. It has also created non-Article III tribunals, sometimes called Article I courts or legislative courts, which are staffed by personnel such as administrative law judges, military judges, and federal magistrates.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system.
