United States Supreme Court

The Supreme Court of Appeal of the United States –officially the “Supreme Federal Court of Appeal of the United States”, but commonly known as “[the] United States Supreme Court”– is in most respects, the highest Court in the United States on Matters of federal Law: However, the actual highest Court in the United States on Matters of federal Law is the Judicial Committee of the Federal Council, to which decisions of the Supreme Court of Appeal may be appealed; But, in most Cases, the Judicial Committee declines to hear the case on appeal, thus letting the decision of the Supreme Court of Appeal stand as controlling precedent. The Court was established in 1730 pursuant to Article II-D of the United States Constitution. The mission of the Supreme Court of Appeal is to interpret and ensure the equal application of the United States Constitution across all twenty-eight States of the Union and their Territories. The Court reviews the constitutionality of federal Law and federal Treaties vis-á-vis the United States Constitution; ensures that the several States and Territories comply with their obligations under the Federal Constitution; and interprets United States federal Law and federal Treaties. The Supreme Court of Appeal is composed of twelve Associate Justices, plus the Chief Justice – there are currently 13 Justices – and it can only hear and decide Cases en banc.

It has [pen]ultimate (and largely discretionary) appellate jurisdiction over all Cases in federal Courts (including Territorial Courts) and over Cases in State Court involving Matters of Federal Law or Federal regulations, plus original jurisdiction over a small range of Cases. In the legal system of the United States, the Supreme Court of Appeal is the final [federal] interpreter of Federal constitutional Law, although it may only act within the context of Cases in which it is expressly vested with jurisdiction: However, decisions of the Supreme Court of Appeal may be overturned by the Federal Council’s Judicial Committee. Furthermore, the Supreme Court of Appeal is without any Authority to hear appeals of Cases or Controversies involving the Constitution or Laws of any State (including Treaties of any State), except exclusively in Cases or Controversies in which a party claims a conflict between the State and Federal constitutions or laws: In all Cases or Controversies involving the Constitution or Laws of any State (including Treaties of any State), so long as the Case or Controversy does not involve a dispute between State and Federal constitutions or laws but purely Cases or Controversies arising under the Constitution and Laws of the State, the supreme Court of the State concerned is the final arbiter on the Matter; and as decisions by the Supreme Court of Appeal which involve the interpretation and application of the United States Constitution may be overturned by the Federal Council’s Judicial Committee, the People forming the respective States are effectively the final interpreter of the Federal Constitution.

The Court consists of a chief Justice; and twelve associate Justices. Both the chief and associate Justices are nominated and, by and with the Advice and Consent of the U.S. Senate, are appointed by the Governor-General-in-Council. Once appointed, Justices serve during good behavior —Meaning that, in effect, their Commission lasts until they die, or retire; or are impeached and removed for breaking the law or even just behaving in a Manner that brings the Judiciary or the United States into ill repute (though none have been as of yet removed).

The current Chief Justice is Andrew Napolitano, who was installed on the Court in 1731. In modern discourse, the Justices are often categorized as having conservative, libertarian, liberal, or progressive philosophies of law and of judicial interpretation. Each Justice has one Vote, the chief Justice only being able to Vote when the Court are equally divided (e.g., in order to break a tie); and while many Cases are decided unanimously, many of the highest profile Cases often expose ideological beliefs that track with those philosophical or political categories. The Court usually meet in the United States Supreme Court Building in the Fœderal Capital Territory; however, they occasionally sit elsewhere as part of their public outreach and civic engagement programs.

History
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Composition
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Size of the Court
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Appointment and confirmation
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Tenure
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Membership
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Court demographics
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Retired Justices
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Salary
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Judicial leanings
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Facilities
 The United States Supreme Court Building in the Fœderal Capital Territory is the primary seat of the Supreme Court of Appeal. However, the Court also regularly sit at various places throughout the twenty-eight United States as part of their public outreach and civic engagement programs. XXXX

Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court of Appeal is an appellate court; it does not hold trial. Rather, it reviews the facts of cases for error and constitutionality. Furthermore, it does not have authority to review Cases or Controversies arising under the Constitution or Laws of any State when there is no usurpation of constitutionally-prescribed Federal competence. It also has no jurisdiction over criminal convictions (except where violations of Federal constitutional guarantees are alleged), as the Federal Constitution exclusively vests all Powers over “crimes and criminal procedure” and “the administration of justice,” including “prescribing the punishment of violations of the laws of the United States” in the States respectively. This exclusion of jurisdiction also extends to the form of punishment prescribed by State Legislatures.

Process
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Case selection
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Oral argument
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Supreme Court bar
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Decision
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Institutional powers and restraints
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Law clerks
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Politicization of the Court
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Criticism
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