1. Branches of Government: The Judicial Branch

2. The Supreme Court Building 

3. Lesson 1: The Structure of the Supreme Court

4. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. It consists of the Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices Each justice holds office constitutionally “during good behavior”—which effectively is for life

5. Each member is nominated by the President And confirmed by the U.S. Senate

6. Alito Kennedy Stevens Ginsburg Roberts Breyer Sotomayor Scalia Thomas

7. John Paul Stevens 89 years old Associate Justice Liberal Appointed by Ford Entered office in 1975

8. Antonin Scalia 73 years old Associate Justice Conservative Appt. by Reagan Entered office in 1986

9. Anthony Kennedy 73 years old Associate Justice Moderate Conservative Appt. by Reagan Entered office in 1988

10. Clarence Thomas 61 years old Associate Justice Conservative Appt. by Bush (41) Entered office in 1991

11. Ruth B. Ginsburg 76 years old Associate Justice Liberal Appt. by Clinton Entered office in 1993

12. Stephen Breyer 71 years old Associate Justice Liberal Appt. by Clinton Entered office in 1994

13. John Roberts 54 years old Chief Justice Conservative Appt. by Bush (43) Entered office in 2005

14. Samuel Alito 59 years old Associate Justice Conservative Appt. by Bush (43) Entered office in 2006

15. Sonia Sotomayor 55 years old Associate Justice Liberal Appt. by Obama Entered office in 2009

16. Political Ideologies of the Justices* *This is not based on a scientific formula

17. Lesson 2: Composition and Compensation

18. Composition Congress has the power to set the number of Supreme Court justices The nation started with 6 in 1789 The total has been 9 since 1869

19. Qualifications The Constitution does not establish any qualifications for justices—not even age or citizenship requirements

20. Qualifications However, most presidents nominate Justices with the following characteristics: Legal experience Judicial experience Bench experience at the federal level

21. Compensation Justices make $208,100 Chief Justice earns $217,400 May retire with a full salary at age 70 with at least 10 years of service or at age 65 with at least 15 years of service