US Chapter 5 - Supreme Court

THE SUPREME COURT AND CIVIL RIGHTS

Key Topics: The Supreme Court
 What is the structure of the federal courts?
 What is the membership of the Supreme Court?
 What is the judicial philosophy of the justices?
 How does the appointment and confirmation process work?
 What is the power of judicial review?
 What is judicial activism?
 How has the Supreme Court interpreted the Bill of Rights?
 How has the Supreme Court influenced public policy?
 How has the Supreme Court checked congressional power?
 How has the Supreme Court checked presidential power?
 What do these decisions tell us about the Supreme Court?
 What are similarities and differences between the UK and US Supreme Court?




Structure of the federal courts:
The United States Supreme Court sits at the top of the federal judiciary. Initially there was only one
court, but in the Judiciary Act 1789, Congress set up a system of lower federal courts.


US Supreme Court
1 Court




US Court of Appeals
13 Circuits (12 Regional and 1 for the
Federal Circuit)




US District Courts
94 Districts, each with a Bankruptcy Court
and
US Court of International Trade
US Court of Federal Court

Below the Supreme Court there are 13 Courts of Appeal – known as Circuit Courts – and below them are
94 trial courts known as District Courts. Most federal cases begin in the District Courts. A case may be
appealed to a Circuit Court and then appealed to the Supreme Court. There is no right to hear a case.

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