1. The Judicial Branch

2. The Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court is the only court created by the Constitution.
The Constitution gives Congress the power to create other inferior courts
The US has a dual court system (state and national)
Jurisdiction: the authority of a court to hear a case.

3. Source: ?

4. The Supreme Court
Usually limits its caseload to appeals involving constitutional questions and interpretations of federal law.
The S.C. (and other inferior courts) have the VERY important power of judicial review: the power to decide if any act of government is constitutional.
The S.C. is the FINAL AUTHORITY on the meaning of the Constitution.

5. A Few Facts about the Supreme Court
Justices are appointed by the President.
Lifetime appointments.
They “sit” from the first Monday in October through June/July.
Only about 1/3 of the Court’s decisions are unanimous; most are split.
Majority opinion: the Court’s decision
Dissenting opinions: often written by justices who did not agree with the majority opinion.

6. Salaries
The current salary for the Chief Justice is $223,500 per year, while Associate Justices make $213,900.

7. Chief Justice John Roberts

8. Antonin Scalia (died 2016)

9. Anthony Kennedy

10. Samuel Alito

11. Clarence Thomas

12. Ruth Bader Ginsburg

13. Stephen Breyer

14. Sonia Sotomayor

15. Elena Kagan

16. Critical Thinking and Discussion
Why is it important that Supreme Court justices are appointed to their positions for life?
Explain how Presidential appointments can affect decisions made by the Court.