Supreme Court

The main responsibilities of the Supreme Court is to uphold the Constitution and preside over conflicts between states. The Supreme Court or lower courts are not authorized to create laws. The making of laws is the responsibility of the legislatures - state & federal. The Supreme Court renders opinions (and dissenting opinions) as their final decisions. Lower courts hand down verdicts in favor of one party or another based on the law and sets awards, damages, or sentences as allowed by the law.

The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court of the country. The Supreme Court is granted power through the Constitution. Within the powers of the Supreme Court is the ability to monitor the actions of Congress and the President of the United States of America.

Members of the Supreme Court are known as officers and justices. These members are appointed by the justices except for the positions of clerk, reporter of decisions, marshal and librarian, which are appointed by the Chief Justice. The remaining court officers are counselor to the Chief Justice, court counsel, curator, director of information technology and public information officer.

The duties of the Chief Justice include presiding at oral arguments, presiding at deliberations and administrative duties, oversees time limits of arguments within the court, approving the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and often writes the opinions of the members on each case, is responsible for swearing in the new President of the United States of America during inauguration, serves as Chancellor of the Smithsonian and as head of other museums.

The Supreme Court is in session from the beginning of October until early July. The time the court is in session is known as a term. During each term the justices are involved in sitting and recessing. During sitting, similar to other judges, the justices hear cases and deliver opinions and verdicts. During recessing, the justices write opinions which are somewhat lengthy documents which state a position and reasoning for such position on a case as either for or against and issue or individual.

Under Article III of the Constitution, the power of the Supreme Court extends to all law and equity cases arising from the Constitution, laws and treaties of the USA.

As the highest court in the country, the Supreme Court is also an appellate court. This means that appeals made in lower courts may be heard within the Supreme Court. Decisions made by the justices on these cases are considered final.

The Supreme Court has also been active in outlining policies and procedures for the lower courts of the United States. Furthermore, the Supreme Court handles disputes between the states in America.

The role of the Supreme Court is ultimately to uphold the law. As the highest court in the nation, the Supreme Court is responsible for the interpretation of laws and the interpretation of the Constitution.