"The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States."
The highest court in the American legal system, responsible for adjudicating disputes, interpreting the Constitution and laws, and checking the power of other branches.
The justices of the Supreme Court: A list of current and past Supreme Court justices, their backgrounds, and the presidents who appointed them.
The confirmation process: A description of the process by which a Supreme Court justice is appointed and confirmed, including the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings.
The Supreme Court's powers: The extent of the Court's authority and its relationship to the other branches of government, including the power of judicial review.
The structure of the Supreme Court: A description of the physical layout of the Court building, its chambers, and its courtroom, as well as the roles of the Chief Justice and the other justices.
Key Supreme Court cases: An overview of landmark cases in American history that the Court has decided, including Roe v. Wade, Brown v. Board of Education, and Citizens United v. FEC.
The Court's influence on American society: An examination of how the Supreme Court's decisions have shaped U.S. law and culture, including its impact on civil rights, free speech, and political campaigns.
Judicial philosophy: An exploration of the different legal philosophies that shape Supreme Court decisions, including originalism, textualism, and social theory.
The role of law clerks: The importance of the clerks who assist the justices in drafting opinions and conducting research.
The Court's decision-making process: A look at how the justices deliberate and make decisions on cases, including their use of oral arguments and briefs.
The future of the Supreme Court: A discussion of the Court's role in contemporary American society and the possible impact of future appointments and retirements.
Constitutional Cases: These cases involve the interpretation of the Constitution and the application of the Constitution to specific situations.
Appellate Cases: These cases involve a lower court decision being appealed to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court reviews the lower court decision to determine whether it was made correctly according to the law.
Original Jurisdiction Cases: These cases involve disputes between states, disputes involving foreign governments, and cases involving diplomats.
Advisory Opinions: The Supreme Court can give its opinion on legal questions that are not associated with specific cases.
Emergency Applications: These cases involve applications of people asking the Supreme Court to intervene immediately in specific situations.
Habeas Corpus Cases: These cases involve petitions filed by prisoners who are challenging the constitutionality of their confinement or seeking their release from custody.
Certification Cases: These cases involve questions of state law that are critical to the resolution of a case before the Supreme Court.
Petitions for Review: These cases involve challenging the decision of a lower court, such as the Court of Appeals, in hopes of having the judgment overturned.
Criminal Cases: These cases involve the prosecution of individuals accused of crimes.
Civil Cases: These cases involve conflicts between two parties, such as a contract dispute, a personal injury case, or a lawsuit over property disputes.
"It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all federal court cases, and over state court cases that involve a point of U.S. Constitutional or federal law."
"It also has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, specifically 'all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party.'"
"The court holds the power of judicial review, the ability to invalidate a statute for violating a provision of the Constitution."
"Yes, it is also able to strike down presidential directives for violating either the Constitution or statutory law."
"The court may decide cases having political overtones, but has ruled that it does not have power to decide non-justiciable political questions."
"Established by Article Three of the United States Constitution, the composition and procedures of the Supreme Court were initially established by the 1st Congress through the Judiciary Act of 1789."
"The court consists of nine justices: the chief justice of the United States and eight associate justices."
"The justices meet at the Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C."
"Justices have lifetime tenure, meaning they remain on the court until they die, retire, resign, or are impeached and removed from office."
"When a vacancy occurs, the president, with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoints a new justice."
"Each justice has a single vote in deciding the cases argued before the court."
"When in the majority, the chief justice decides who writes the opinion of the court."
"The Supreme Court receives on average about 7,000 petitions for writs of certiorari each year."
"...but grants only 70–90 [petitions]."
"In recent years, the Supreme Court has seen substantial criticism over democratic backsliding, ethics scandals and a lack of external enforcement, partisan rulings, secretive decisions, and limited and slow ability to take on cases, among other controversies."