The Supreme Court: The Judicial Branch
“I believe that the establishment of the Supreme Court of the United States as a constitutional court … is the most significant single contribution the United States has made to the art of government.”
—Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist
The Supreme Court is the highest form of judicial authority in the United States. Only nine justices are given responsibility over the monumental judgments of the court, which handles matters of constitutional and federal law. Each vote is extremely influential in the structure and application of the American judicial system.
—Former Chief Justice William Rehnquist
The Supreme Court is the highest form of judicial authority in the United States. Only nine justices are given responsibility over the monumental judgments of the court, which handles matters of constitutional and federal law. Each vote is extremely influential in the structure and application of the American judicial system.
Expand All Guide SectionsOverview of the United States Supreme Court
The U.S. Supreme Court is the general overseer of the entire American judicial system, and has more ... read more »
History of the Supreme Court
Today's cases are considered by looking back upon earlier rulings, and the Court's background is drawn upon to determine virtually every case. The following resources outline the history of the Supreme Court so you can trace the roots of current decisions.
Dulcinea's Insight
- There is an ongoing debate about loose vs. strict interpretation of the Constitution. “Loose constructionism” supports a flexible Constitution that adapts to a changing society, whereas “strict constructionism” discourages straying from the precise wording of the Constitution. Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson were the original proponents of these respective forms of interpretation; to learn more about their debate visit this U.S. Department of State Web site.
Dulcinea's Picks
The Supreme Court Historical Society
has a voluminous history of every Court from the Jay Court to the Rehnquist Court. There is a timeline of justices with information about each one. There are sections on the current Court and previous “Homes of the Court,” plus quizzes and videos.
PBS
has an educational and entertaining resource on the Supreme Court. It was created in conjunction with the Supreme Court documentary series that aired late January 2007. In addition to history, the site is full of interactive features and lesser-known tidbits: did you know Justice Byron White was an NFL football star before he joined the Court?
The History of the Supreme Court
focuses on elements that went into the development of the American judiciary system, and ultimately the Supreme Court itself. Important political philosophies, names, and dates are hyperlinked throughout the text to facilitate an in-depth historical exploration.
Supreme Court Cases
The meat of the Court is its cases. Before the development of the Internet, lawyers had to shuffle ... read more »
Supreme Court Justices
Supreme Court justices are entrusted with so much authority and knowledge that they dedicate their ... read more »
News about the Supreme Court
The daily newspaper is frequently the only way citizens find out about Supreme Court decisions. For ... read more »
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