U.S. Supreme Court

Established in 1789 according to Article III of the United States Constitution, the U.S. Supreme Court is held as the highest federal court in the country and has authority over all federal and states courts that conduct cases involving issues of a federal nature. Though it can only act upon a case within the range allowed by its jurisdiction, this office is also the final interpreter of federal law in all states.

The members

Lead by the Chief Justice of the United States with an appointed 8 associate judges, these justices have life tenure once elected and can only be removed through impeachment, something that has never happened since its inauguration in 1789. These justices are appointed by the president after confirmation by the senate and most cases are decided unanimously. In the past, some cases of high profile have often exposed the ideological beliefs of some of these justices though it has never posed a problem. The meeting place of this body is the Supreme Court building, in Washington DC.

History

As the only court specifically designated by the constitution, the powers and capabilities of this body of justice is outlined in the American Constitution. The title of “Justice” was also specifically assigned to the members, clearly distinguishing their position from that of regular judges. First convened on February 2nd, 1790, it consisted of only six members and all decisions were made by majority vote of better than 4 : 2.

Appointment of members

The president can nominate anyone of his or her choosing regardless of qualification since there are no requirements for this job. His choice is subject to approval from the senate and in recent times, this procedure has attracted attention of the media and many independent groups. The president will obviously try to nominate members that share his or her own personal views and citizens do the same. They hold rallies in attempts to convince Congress to accept or refuse members based on their track records and how well they align with the beliefs of each group.

The purpose of the U.S. Supreme Court is to provide the justice department of the nation with an alternative body overlooking the activities and ensuring that everything proceeds according to the law. The system is based on democracy from start to finish and it is always satisfying to see democracy triumph over anarchy and chaos despite the difficulties in finding balance in an ever changing world.