The Supreme Court
• What is the concept of judicial review?
• What is the scope of the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction?
• How do cases reach the Supreme Court?
• How does the Supreme Court operate?
Judicial Review
• Judicial review refers to the power of a court to determine the
constitutionality of a government action.
• The Supreme Court first asserted its power of judicial review in
the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803).
• The Court’s decision laid the foundation for its involvement in
the development of the American system of government.
Supreme Court Jurisdiction
• The Supreme Court has both original and appellate jurisdiction.
• The Court has original jurisdiction over cases involving two or
more States and all cases brought against ambassadors or
other public ministers.
• Most cases heard by the Court are appeals cases. The Court
hears only one to two cases in which it has original jurisdiction
per year.
How Cases Reach the Supreme Court
Appealing a Case to the Supreme Court
How the Supreme Court Operates
Oral Arguments
•Once the Supreme Court accepts a case, it sets a date on
which lawyers on both sides will present oral arguments.
Briefs
•Briefs are written documents filed with the Court before oral
arguments begin.
The Court in Conference
•The Chief Justice presides over a closed-door conference in
which justices present their views on the case at hand.
Opinions of the Court
Section 3 Review
1. The Supreme Court has which type of jurisdiction?
(a) only original jurisdiction
(b) only appellate jurisdiction
(c) appellate and original jurisdiction
(d) none of the above
2. The majority opinion of a Supreme Court case is
(a) the decision made on a case by the Court.
(b) written by those justices that voted in favor of a case.
(c) never used as precedent in a court of law.
(d) often authored by the justice holding the least seniority.
ANSWERS: C / A
Video explaining the Supreme Court just click the link: http://sunnylandsclassroom.org/Asset.aspx?id=1254
Marbury v. Madison (video): www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWYFwl93uCM