The history and workings of the U.S. Supreme court.
SCOTUS
Established by the third article of the U.S. Consitution in 1789, the Supreme Court by definition is "The highest federal court in the US, consisting of nine justices and taking judicial precedence over all other courts in the nation." The Supreme Court acts as a check and balance system over the executive and legislative branches of government; to make sure neither one is abusing its power in an unconstitutional way.
Justices
As stated above, the court consists of nine different judges. Each judge is first nominated by a President, then they must be confirmed by the senate. This role is also the only government job with a life long term. Supreme Court justices are allowed to hold their position until they die. The current Supreme Court Justices are Clarence Thomas, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Samuel A. Alito, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, and John G. Roberts, Jr., who serves as Chief Justice of the United States. The Chief Justice presides over the Supreme Court and also holds the ability to start an impeachment proceeding over a President.
In the case "Marbury Vs Madison." Justice John Marshall's influence on how the court interacts with and operates as judiciary within the government is most notable. Chief Justice Marshall also established the court's power to review the constitutionality of laws enacted by Congress.
Court Cases
The Supreme Court wasn't always on the right side of history, throughout American history, the supreme court has played a major role in the laws and precedents enforced within this country. Some of the most known cases being: Dred Scott Vs Sanford (1857), which stated African American salves didn't have the right to citizenship, Plessy Vs Ferguson (1896) which established the later unconstitutional clause, "separate but equal." In more recent times, some of the most impactful cases have been Roe Vs Wade (1973) which allowed women’s right to choose, giving them more say in their reproductive rights. And the case Obergefell Vs Hodges (2015) which legalized same-sex marriage across all 50 states.
My Thoughts
The Supreme Court plays a major role in the shaping of this country as it’s many court cases influence the way America has grown and developed over time. By looking at court cases alone, one is able to get a snap shot of what was important at the time a ruling was made. Through understanding why a certain decisions is made we're able to interpret what was important during a given time.
