THE SUPREME COURTTHE SUPREME COURT

““Did I Do That?”Did I Do That?”

Remember Remember

►Do not copy slides with Review on Do not copy slides with Review on them.them.

►Do not copy slides with Notice on Do not copy slides with Notice on them.them.

►Pay special attention to anything that Pay special attention to anything that may be underlined.may be underlined.

►Do not copy anything in Do not copy anything in Italics.Italics.

REVIEWREVIEW

►What are the three branches of What are the three branches of government?government?

►Which of the following makes the laws?Which of the following makes the laws?►Which of the following enforces the Which of the following enforces the

laws?laws?►Which of the following interprets the Which of the following interprets the

laws?laws?►What does “Rule of Law” mean?What does “Rule of Law” mean?

UNITED STATES SUPREME UNITED STATES SUPREME COURTCOURT

►The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest The U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land.court in the land.

► It’s motto “Equal Justice Under the Law”It’s motto “Equal Justice Under the Law”►Under American law, a person is Under American law, a person is

assumed innocent until proven guilty.assumed innocent until proven guilty. This is hard to achieve because everyone This is hard to achieve because everyone

has their own ideas and biases.has their own ideas and biases. It is the job of the court system (mainly the It is the job of the court system (mainly the

supreme court) to make sure this is supreme court) to make sure this is achieved.achieved.

How it began.How it began.

► Article III of the Constitution established the Article III of the Constitution established the supreme court.supreme court.

► It also gave congress the power to establish It also gave congress the power to establish lower courts. lower courts.

► The federal court system exists along with The federal court system exists along with the 50 state court systems. These two sets the 50 state court systems. These two sets of courts exist together and also must work of courts exist together and also must work together. (together. (How might it be difficult for state How might it be difficult for state and federal courts to exist and work and federal courts to exist and work together?)together?)

The way that the U.S. Federal Court System, and the State court system interact is very interesting. Most of the time Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. This means they have the final say. In other cases the two have concurrent jurisdiction this means that they share the power.

The Supreme Court Cont.The Supreme Court Cont.

► The job of the Supreme court is to make sure The job of the Supreme court is to make sure laws are allowable under the Constitution. laws are allowable under the Constitution.

► The Supreme Court is made up of 8 Associate The Supreme Court is made up of 8 Associate Justices and 1 Chief Justice. Justices and 1 Chief Justice. (Why do you think (Why do you think that there is an odd number of justices?that there is an odd number of justices?

► The Supreme Court decides which cases it will The Supreme Court decides which cases it will hear and which it will not. If a case is not hear and which it will not. If a case is not heard by the supreme court, then the decision heard by the supreme court, then the decision of the lower court stands.of the lower court stands.

How to become a Supreme How to become a Supreme Court JusticeCourt Justice

►Most always are lawyersMost always are lawyers► Successful career in law before being chosenSuccessful career in law before being chosen► Usually have experience serving as a judge Usually have experience serving as a judge

in lower courts.in lower courts.► Political views normally coincide with Political views normally coincide with

presidents. presidents. ► President nominates youPresident nominates you► Senate and House confirm you.Senate and House confirm you.► You are justice for life.You are justice for life.

John Roberts is sworn in as Chief Justice by senior Associate Justice John Paul Stevens in the East Room of the White House on the same day as his confirmation, September 29, 2005.

Samuel Alito is sworn in as an Associate Justice by Chief Justice John Roberts in the East Room of the White House on the day after his confirmation, February 1, 2006.

Judicial ReviewJudicial Review

►A large part of what the supreme court A large part of what the supreme court does each day is called does each day is called judicial reviewjudicial review..

►This is the power to say whether any This is the power to say whether any local, state, or federal law is in local, state, or federal law is in agreement with the constitution of the agreement with the constitution of the U.S. U.S.

►The Supreme Court also determines the The Supreme Court also determines the meaning of the laws. meaning of the laws. (What does “use a (What does “use a gun mean”?)gun mean”?)