Who Rules the Court?
In 1789, the Supreme Court was established and the court system of America was changed forever. The Supreme Court is known as the most powerful judicial body on planet Earth. Nine justices make up the Supreme Court and to get here you must be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. An average term for a justice is 16 years but typically lasts longer. Since the establishment of the Supreme Court, there have been over 100 justices.
What makes this court so powerful is that they have the ability to the tell the President, Congress, and the States what they can and cannot do. The Supreme Court also has what is called original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction. Original jurisdiction states that the Supreme Court is the first and only court to hear cases. However, the Constitution limits this jurisdiction to matters between states, or regarding ambassadors/high-ranking ministers. Appellate jurisdiction is the authority the Supreme Court is granted to review the decisions of lower courts.
Around 7,000 cases arrive at the Supreme Court each year and only about 100-150 cases are accepted. Most of these cases arrive as petitions for "certiorari" meaning written arguments to persuade the Supreme Court that a ruling in a lower court was incorrect. Justices and their law clerks will sit down and review cases then decide which ones to accept. The case then has to be voted on by all 9 justices. Four out of nine votes are needed to accept a case, and five out of nine votes are needed to grant a stay. The inner workings of the Supreme Court have been built over the last 200 years. This court protects citizens against federal and state power and will continue to do so.
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