1. The Supreme Court

2. Constitutional Origin Article III, §1, “The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish." The Supreme Court of the United States was created by the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789. The Court was finally organized on February 2, 1790.

3. The Supreme Court Jurisdiction According to the Constitution, the Supreme Court has two forms of jurisdiction: Original Jurisdiction - The ability and authority to decide cases based on hearing testimony and viewing evidence. Appellate Jurisdiction – The ability and authority to review the ruling of a case from a lower court.

4. The Supreme Court Constitutional Jurisdiction According to the Constitution (Art. III, §2): "The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; -to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; -to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;-to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; -to Controversies between two or more States;—between a State and Citizens of another State;-between Citizens of different States;—between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.

5. The Supreme Court Constitutional Origin "In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make."

6. The Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts Appointed By: George. W. Bush Confirmed: Sept. 29, 2005 Senate Vote: 78–22 Age at appt: 50 Political Views: “A consistent advocate for conservative principles”

7. The Supreme Court Antonin Scalia Appointed By: Ronald Reagan Confirmed: Sept. 26, 1986 Senate Vote: 98-0 Age at appt: 50 Political Views: “staked out a conservative ideology in his opinions”

8. The Supreme Court Anthony Kennedy Appointed By: Ronald Reagan Date Confirmed: Feb. 18, 1988 Senate Vote: 97-0 Age at appt: 51 Political Views: “looks at cases individually rather than adhering to any rigid ideology”

9. The Supreme Court Clarence Thomas Appointed By: George. H. W. Bush Confirmed: Oct. 23, 1991 Senate Vote: 52-48 Age at appt: 43 Political Views: “Generally viewed as the most conservative member of the Court”

10. The Supreme Court Ruth Bader Ginsburg Appointed By: Bill Clinton Date Confirmed: Aug. 10, 1993 Senate Vote: 96-3 Age at appt: 60 Political Views: “cautious approach to adjudication, moderate but liberal”

11. The Supreme Court Stephen Breyer Appointed By: Bill Clinton Date Confirmed: Aug. 3 rd, 1994 Senate Vote: 87-9 Age at appt: 56 Political Views: “liberal with a strict patter of deference to Congress”

12. The Supreme Court Samuel Alito Appointed By: George. W. Bush Confirmed: January 31, 2006 Senate Vote: 58-42 Age at appt: 55 Political Views: “Conservative with a libertarian streak”

13. The Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor Appointed By: Barack Obama Date Confirmed: Aug. 8th, 2009 Senate Vote: 68-31 Age at appt: 55 Political Views: “a reliable member of the liberal bloc”

14. The Supreme Court Elena Kagan Appointed By: Barack Obama Date Confirmed: Aug. 7 th, 2010 Senate Vote: 63-37 Age at appt: 50 Political Views: “A moderate liberal and consensus builder”