History of the Supreme Court

SUPREME COURT INFORMATION: With the information taught in Talking About Freedom and AP Government and Politics, the responsibilities of the Supreme Court are heavily recounted. In particular, the provided videos note the makeup, obligations, and case handling of the Judicial Branch. 

More prominently, the Supreme Court is responsible for upholding the contents of the nation's founding document. Following their associated precedents, the lives of Americans, the authority of the Executive Branch, and the powers of the Legislative Branch (House of Representatives and the Senate) are directly impacted. Today, the Supreme Court is composed of nine Justices: eight Associate Justices and one Chief Justice. As claimed in the attached publication, this group remains the world's most powerful judicial body. 

SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (2025)

SURPRISING FACTORS: On the other hand, several components of the U.S. Supreme Court appeared astonishing...

A primary example is the number of justices who had previously served on the Court. Currently, there are a total of 100 individuals, each averaging approximately 16 years of service. 

Furthermore, the video outlined the clear sense of civility that lies within the group. Each justice remains respectful and courteous, despite contrasting opinions. They initiate each debate by shaking the hands of one another and allowing everyone an equal opportunity to speak. This maturity is considered refreshing and in contrast to the continuous chaos seen in other areas of Washington. 

Lastly, the length of case deliberations and adjustments was surprising. I was oblivious to the time required to form a proper conclusion and their term deadline (late June).

THE MARBLE PALACE

CONCLUSION: Overall, I felt more knowledgeable after watching this series (Part 1 and Part 2). These videos successfully exposed common Supreme Court misconceptions as well. A noteworthy instance is the justices' "ability" to initiate and solve national issues. Without real cases and controversies, Supreme Court justices are unable to take action. Instead, the other branches must create and pass formal declarations. Comprehensively, these publications increased my curiosity and understanding, forming a strong foundation for the course's topics.