History of the U.S. Supreme Court

 

What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know?

The Supreme Court is the last defense of the Constitution. It is made up of nine justices who are appointed by the President of the United States and approved by Congress. The Justices make sure the lower courts interpret and apply the law correctly. I didn’t realize how timely and complicated the process was of the Supreme Court. They receive thousands of written petitions but only accept about 100 per year for full consideration.

What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

The Constitution and the Bill of Rights were written to protect our freedoms. The Supreme Court defends the Constitution, therefore, the Supreme Court is defending our rights. When the Supreme Court speaks, the people listen and obey because of the trust between the two.

What was the most surprising thing you learned?

The most surprising thing about the Supreme Court was the amount of petitions the court receives and the time it takes to rule on a case. The Court can receive more than 100 cases per week which can add up to about 7000 per year. Ruling on a case can take several months. This involves oral arguments, the justices meeting in private, writing on their rulings and justices editing and rewriting their rulings based on other justices arguments.

How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?

It made me think of the Constitution more and my rights. It is a little scary that there are so many petitions to the Supreme Court. Approximately 7000 cases per year seems overwhelming. It makes me wonder how effective the lower courts really are. I hope I never need to find out but if I do, I am glad the Supreme Court might be there to defend my rights.