The Workings of the United States Supreme Court

When you think United States power, what do you think of? If you said Supreme Court you are correct, the US Supreme Court is the most powerful judicial body. The members of the Supreme Court are responsible for preserving the union, safeguarding liberty and upholding the rule of law. With this the Constitution gives the court legitimacy but the public give them power, where they can make private decisions and choose which petitions will make it to court each year.

John Marshall Statue located in the Supreme Court

            

                                                                                                                       John Marshall                                                 

Our Supreme Court still looks to the Constitution today to resolve national problems that was established by John Marshal in the early 1800's. In 1801 the government was moved to Washington, D.C and John Marshal a lawyer from Virginia was elected the 1st Chief Justice of the United States.

Later on in the 1820's the court faced its most divisive issue in American history to this day. An enslaved man name Dred Scott from Missouri went to the court to claim his freedom under justice. The court ruled that the court could not declare any slave citizenship to the United States. Later on the Civil War ended slavery but the courts decision on Dred Scott was never forgotten and went down as the courts greatest self-inflicting wound. After the war the Constitution was amended and slavery was abolished and rights were given, rights like the ability to vote.

                                                                                                                                      United States current Supreme Court

Today the Supreme Court is made up of 1 Chief Justice and 8 Assisant Justices. To be in the Supreme Court the individual must be nominated and sworn in by a President. Serving on the Supreme Court lasts until death, each member serves on average 16-20 years. Once a member passes away another justice is nominated and brought into the court. There has been 102 Supreme Court members in history.

The Supreme Court receives around 7,000 petitions a year. These petitions are sorted and divided between justices. Each week the justices will review the petitions and will all meet at the end of the week for a conference to decide which petitions will make it to court.