1. Judicial Branch
Chapter 11

2. Supreme Court Building, Washington D. C. http://www. nicholsonanderson

3. Judicial Branch
Judicial Branch outlined in Article III of Constitution
Supreme Court serves as highest court in the United States
Composed of 9 Justices
1 Chief Justice – 2017 salary $223,500
currently: John G. Roberts
8 Associate Justices – 2017 salary $213,900

5. Membership in the Supreme Court
Whenever a position on the court comes open, the current president will appoint a new justice
The Senate must then approve the president’s choice
A term in the Supreme Court lasts for life
Justices may choose to resign
Justices can also be removed from office for misconduct
Impeachment and trial to determine guilt

6. Supreme Court Trivia Most justices have been white men
4 women and 2 African Americans have served
First woman: Sandra Day O’Connor
(Ruth Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan)
First African American: Thurgood Marshall
(Clarence Thomas)
Most justices have had experience as judges in other levels of our judiciary system
Other Trivia:
President Taft served as Chief Justice of the Court after becoming President.

8. Powers of the Supreme Court
Supreme Court has power of Judicial Review
Interprets laws and actions taken within the U.S. to determined if they are constitutional
Serves as highest authority on interpretation of the Constitution
Judicial Review is part of the system of Checks and Balances

9. Supreme Court Rulings
The authority of the Supreme Court is handed down through rulings on various cases
Often times, cases start on local level and those involved appeal to a higher court
Some cases reach the Supreme Court for a final verdict
The court does not have to rule on all cases. (Pick and choose – why?)

10. Legacy of the Supreme Court
The court’s ruling on the case can have a dramatic impact on American society
Serves as final interpretation of our rights and under what circumstances those rights must be upheld
Court has ruled on cases dealing with:
Amendments from the Bill of Rights
Abortion
Citizenship and rights that come with status thereof
Segregation
Capital Punishment
Euthanasia
ETC. (the list goes on)