1. Article Three Thomas Sotomayor Chief Justice Roberts Scalia Kennedy Alito Stevens Ginsberg Breyer Powers given to the Judicial branch.

2. The Supreme Court Article 3, Section 1: The judicial power shall be vested in one supreme court, and in such inferior courts as Congress may ordain and establish

This branch interprets and reviews the laws of the nation.This is called Judicial Review.

Remember: Congress creates the courts and decides the number of judges.

• Supreme Court

• Federal District Courts

There are also a myriad of other Federal Courts for:

• Taxes

• International Trade

• Armed Forces

• Land/Property Disputes)

Also each state creates their own system of courts, but can be overruled by the Supreme Court.

3. 4. Duties of the Courts Article 3, Sections 2 & 3: The SC is the court for Treason and crimes involving international ambassadors.

The Constitution doesnt describe much.Most powers come from:

• Congress/laws.

• Appeals by lower courts that set a precedent.

• • What is a precedent?

Arguments about rules and laws occur, naturally.

• The court system is like an umpire making the final decision in a fair way, after hearing all of the evidence.

• They review these laws, debate them, and then individually make a vote.

• Each side then writes what their opinion is (Majority Opinion and Dissenting Opinion)

5. The High Court: SCOTUS (Supreme Court of the United States)

The Supreme Court is the highest in the land you cannot challenge its ruling.

• The Court of Last Resort

• Its job is to review and interpret how fair the laws of our Federal government and the 50 States are.

• It will hear appeals.If you dont like a lower courts ruling, you can take it here.

The Court will only hear cases that deal with the Constitution or Federal law, or to set aprecedent .

• Unconstitutionalis when a law is either against something written in the Constitution, or when there is no basis in the Constitution for that law.

Not just anybody can take its case here.Why?

• Usually hears only between 60-100 cases per year.

• SCOTUS carefully selects the cases it will hear, then argue.

6. Supreme Court Qualifications

Made up of 9 Supreme Court Justices, and one of those is the Chief Justice (currently John Roberts).

• No age, citizenship, or residence requirement.

• However, you must be harshly questioned and interviewed by Senate

• • Remember: theyapprove of Presidential appointments.This can be a very demeaning (Bork), but sometimes revealing event (Thomas, Miers).

• In 2005, 2 Justices were named by President Bush, a very rare occurrence. (also, the White Sox won the World Series this year)

• • John Roberts, named Chief Justice

• • Samuel Alito

7. Once elected, you serve for life! 8. Lower Courts: Federal District Courts

11 District Courts (all over the country, see map).

They are the Regional courts in our nation below the SCOTUS.

• President appoints these judges for life, too.

• 3 Judges per district, so 33 in total.

• Hear the disputes/appeals from all states within their district.

They only deal with federal laws andhear the disputes of states that have been appealed.

9. Paths to the Supreme Court From theStateLevel From the Federal Level