The Supreme Court: What I Know Now

 The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and serves as the final arbiter of legal disputes within the federal court system. Its primary function is to interpret and apply the Constitution and federal laws, as well as to resolve conflicts between federal and state law.

The history of the Supreme Court of the United States can be traced back to the country's founding. The Constitution, which was written in 1787 and ratified in 1788, established the federal court system and granted the Supreme Court the power to hear certain cases.

The first Supreme Court, which was established in 1789, was composed of six justices and held its first session in 1790. The Court's early years were marked by uncertainty, as it struggled to establish its authority and define its role within the new federal government.

One of the Court's first major cases was Marbury v. Madison (1803),

in which Chief Justice John Marshall asserted the power of the Court to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional. This decision, which established the principle of judicial review, helped to establish the Supreme Court as a co-equal branch of government with the power to interpret the Constitution.

Throughout the 19th century, the Supreme Court issued a series of landmark decisions that shaped the course of American history. These included Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857), which held that African Americans could not be considered citizens of the United States, and Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), which upheld racial segregation under the "separate but equal" doctrine.

In the 20th century, the Supreme Court played a central role in advancing civil rights and liberties. In Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the Court declared that segregation in public schools was unconstitutional, paving the way for the Civil Rights Movement. The Court also issued key decisions on issues such as freedom of speech, criminal justice, and the separation of powers.


I know this might be silly, but I didn't know how Supreme Court justices were chosen. I thought maybe people voted on them, when in fact the president nominates them and the US Senate approves of them.

There are several important takeaways from the Supreme Court that are worth considering:

  1. The Supreme Court is the final interpreter of the Constitution: The Constitution is the foundation of American law, and the Supreme Court has the ultimate authority to interpret its meaning. As such, the Court plays a critical role in shaping the country's legal and political landscape.

  2. The Supreme Court's decisions can have far-reaching consequences: The Court's decisions have the power to impact American society and culture in significant ways. For example I'd like to go back to the landmark decision in Brown v. Board of Education (1954) helped to pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement.

  3. The Supreme Court is a co-equal branch of government: The Supreme Court is one of the three branches of government established by the Constitution, along with the executive and legislative branches. This means that the Court has the power to check the actions of the other branches of government.

  4. The Supreme Court is relatively small compared to other federal courts: There are over 800 federal judges in the United States, but only nine of them serve on the Supreme Court. Additionally, the Court only hears a small fraction of the cases that are presented to it each year.

  5. The Supreme Court's decisions are not always unanimous: While the Supreme Court's decisions are often closely watched and debated, it is important to remember that they are not always unanimous. Justices may have differing views on legal issues, and their decisions may reflect those differences.

  1. I think the most important takeaway is number 2. The Supreme Court makes monumental decisions that impact everybody and have extreme significance on everyone. In conclusion, the Supreme Court plays a vital role in the American legal system and has the power to shape the course of American history. Its decisions can have a profound impact on society and culture, and the Court's small size and selective approach to case selection make it a unique and important institution in the United States.


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