Supreme Court
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction with cases between two or more states or with cases involving diplomats from foreign countries. A diplomat is a representative from a country. Other cases are under the jurisdiction of lower courts. The Supreme Court is the final authority over other courts, the Constitution, acts of Congress, and treaties with other nations. It's decisions are binding. They pick the cases they are going to hear. If the Supreme Court refuses a case the decision from the lower court remains.
Justices Jobs or Duties
The Supreme court has a total of 9 justices. There's 1 chief justice and 8 associate justices. Congress can change the number of justices in the Supreme Court. They make decisions and hear and rule on cases. The justices choose what cases they want to hear.
Qualifications of Justices
There is no listed qualifications or requirements for a Supreme Court justice. Most of the justices were lawyers or practiced law. The Supreme Court holds great power and justices serve a lifetime term. The president has to nominate the justices carefully because they still need to be approved by the Senate.
Powers and Limits
Article III of the Constitution creates the judicial branch. Congress makes most of the Supreme Court's rules.
Judicial Review
Judicial review is a court's power over federal, state, or local law. Constitutional means that it follows the Constitution. Nullify means to legally cancel something. Judicial review is an important check on the legislative and executive branches.
Marbury V. Madison
The Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the power of judicial review over anything state governments do. There are 3 principles to judicial review. First, the Constitution is the Supreme law. Second, if there is a dispute between the Constitution and another law then the Constitution wins. Third, anyone in a judicial job position must uphold the Constitution.
Limits on the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court can only hear cases that come to it. Most cases need to do through the Appeals Court first. Only cases with a federal question can reach the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court deals with mostly social issues because they don't want to listen to political issues.
Major Supreme Court Cases
Worchester V. Georgia- Made people stop breaking treaties.
Dred Scott V. Sandford- Went against the 14th Amendment.
Marbury V. Madison- Set up the Judiciary Act of 1789
