20.1 - The nature and role of the Supreme Court Flashcards
Chapter 20.1 - the nature and role of the Supreme Court
the nature and role of the supreme court
What did Congress pass in 1789 to create the US courts system?
The Federal Judiciary Act 1789
What was the initial makeup of the Supreme Court?
- 1 chief justice
- 5 associate justices
How many district courts are there in the US?
94
How many appellate/circuit courts are there in the US?
13
What is an appellate court?
A court of appeal
What is the Supreme Court’s power of ‘original jurisdiction’?
The right of the Supreme Court to be the first court to hear a case in certain circumstances, rather than need the case to be an appeal
How many original jurisdiction cases have there been since the creation of the Supreme Court?
Fewer than 200
What % of cases sent to the Supreme Court each year are heard?
Less than 1%
What did the Constitution aim to make the Supreme Court?
Independent
What is a Baron de Montesquieu quote about the Supreme Court being independent?
‘There is no liberty if the judiciary power be not separated from the legislative and executive’
What is a Truman quote about a president appointing Supreme Court justices and their independence?
‘Whenever you put a man on the Supreme Court, he ceases to be your friend’
When was the number of justices sat on the Supreme Court set at 9?
The Judiciary Act 1869
How does the Constitution protect the salary of Supreme Court justices?
It prevents the salary of justices being lowered during their term in office
When are vacancies on the Supreme Court available?
When a current justice dies, retires or is impeached