Table of Contents
- 1 What authority does the Supreme Court have over the states?
- 2 What authority and powers does the Supreme Court have?
- 3 How does the Supreme Court enforce its rulings?
- 4 What distinguishes the US Supreme Court from a state supreme court?
- 5 How is the Supreme Court unique from other courts?
- 6 Where does the authority of the Supreme Court come from?
- 7 Do you think the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction?
- 8 How are the members of the Supreme Court appointed?
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction (legal ability to hear a case) of the Supreme Court. The Court has original jurisdiction (a case is tried before the Court) over certain cases, e.g., suits between two or more states and/or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers.
As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution.
What powers do state supreme courts have?
State courts are the final arbiters of state laws and constitutions. Their interpretation of federal law or the U.S. Constitution may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court may choose to hear or not to hear such cases.
How does the Supreme Court enforce its rulings?
The Supreme Court has no power to enforce its decisions. It cannot call out the troops or compel Congress or the president to obey. The Court relies on the executive and legislative branches to carry out its rulings.
What distinguishes the US Supreme Court from a state supreme court?
Answer: State supreme courts have rulings that can be overturned, while U.S. Supreme Court rulings are final. State supreme courts have limited jurisdiction on the types of cases they can rule on, while the jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court is unlimited.
How does the Supreme Court interact with the other two branches of government?
The Supreme Court and other federal courts (judicial branch) can declare laws or presidential actions unconstitutional, in a process known as judicial review. Congress (considered the branch of government closest to the people) can impeach both members of the executive and judicial branches.
How is the Supreme Court unique from other courts?
The Court does not give advisory opinions; rather, its function is limited only to deciding specific cases. The Supreme Court also has “original jurisdiction” in a very small number of cases arising out of disputes between States or between a State and the Federal Government.
The Supreme Court’s authority in this respect is also derived from Article III of the Constitution, which states that the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction “in all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a state shall be party.”
When does the Supreme Court have exclusive jurisdiction?
When a case is between two or more states, the Supreme Court holds both original and exclusive jurisdiction, and no lower court may hear such cases. In one of its earliest cases, Chisholm v.
Do you think the Supreme Court has appellate 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.
How are the members of the Supreme Court appointed?
Today, there is one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices of the United States Supreme Court. Like all federal judges, justices are appointed by the President and are confirmed by the Senate. They, typically, hold office for life. The salaries of the justices cannot be decreased during their term of office.