Unit 6:The Federal Court System and

Supreme Court Decision-Making

The Supreme Court

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Introduction to the U.S. Supreme Court

Notes:• Created by Article III of

the Constitution, the Supreme Court is the highest body in the American Judicial Branch

• The job of the judicial branch is to interpret the law, which means that the decisions of the Supreme Court regarding the law are final.

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court

Notes:• The Supreme Court has

two types of jurisdiction:1. original jurisdiction

(which means it can hear a case for the first time if it chooses to)

2. appellate jurisdiction (it can hear cases that have been appealed from lower courts).

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Original Jurisdiction

Notes:• The Supreme Court

exercises it’s original jurisdiction very little on a yearly basis—usually only hearing cases involving two states that are in dispute with one another, OR if a state is in dispute with the federal government.

• Fewer than 5 original jurisdiction cases a year

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Appellate Jurisdiction

Notes:• The Supreme Court may

choose to hear cases on appeal from a lower federal court OR cases being appealed from state Supreme Courts.

• For state cases, the Supreme Court may only rule on matters of federal law, not any matter affecting the ruling according to a state’s law.

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Supreme Court Justices

Notes:• There are 9 Supreme

Court Justices• 1 Chief Justice and 8

Associate Justices• Congress can change the

number of justices allowed.

• Justices are appointed by the president to serve a “for life” term

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Supreme Court Justices (cont’d.)

Notes:• The Chief Justice makes

$181,400/year.• Associate Justices make

$173,600/year.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Profile of Supreme Court Justices

Notes:• Most Justices over time have• A law degree (not a requirement)• Legal experience• Served as state or federal court

judges or served as a state attorney general

• Not young (most appointed in their 50’s-60’s)

• Most come from upper socioeconomic levels

• Mostly white males (2 African American men, 4 females)

• Most are American-born (6 total born outside of the US and 3 of those were appointed by George Washington)

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Duties of Supreme Court Justices

Notes:• The Constitution does not list

the duties of the Supreme Court—they have evolved through interpretation over time.

• The main duty is to hear and rule on cases.– The Supreme Court’s ruling on

a case is referred to as the Opinion of the Court.

• Justices have limited duties related to the 12 federal judicial circuit

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Duties of Supreme Court Justices (cont’d.)

Notes:• The Chief Justice has

additional duties:– Preside over sessions and

conferences.– Leadership in the Court’s

judicial work.– Helps administer the

federal court system

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Role of Law Clerks

Notes:• Clerks are hired to help

the Supreme Court run smoothly by doing things such as:– Assist Justices with day-to-

day tasks– Draft opinions– Conduct research

The Supreme Court:

Main Idea:Appointing Justices

Notes:• The President appoints justices

and the Senate must approve those appointments.

• Considerations when appointing Justices include:– Acceptability with the Senate– Usually a member of the President’s

political party– Justice’s ideology (what they believe

regarding political issues)– The input of interest groups

• The American Bar Association is usually consulted.

• Other interest groups that lobby for justices that will help advance their cause