Supreme Court Video

After watching the video about the Supreme Court, I gained a much deeper understanding of its critical role in our government. The Supreme Court is the most powerful faction of the judicial branch. The Court is composed of nine justices, that each serve a sixteen-year term. The justices handle hundreds of cases each week. Once brought to their attention via petitions, they review each case and decide what to do.

The Supreme Court's authority is rooted in both the Constitution and the trust placed in it by the public. Before the Marbury v. Madison case in 1803, the Court held only a fraction of the power it has today. This case, under the leadership of Chief Justice John Marshall, introduced the concept of judicial review, which allowed the Court to rise to power. Judicial review, along with the system of checks and balances, allows the Supreme Court to oversee and evaluate the actions of the other branches of government.

Many people might not realize that the Supreme Court plays a crucial role in American democracy. By upholding constitutional law and ensuring that the government operates within its guidelines, the Court helps to hold the nation together. If the Supreme Court were to stop enforcing the Constitution, or if the public lost faith in it, our country's stability would be compromised.

I found the Supreme Court's significance to our country was much greater than what I had previously known. The idea of the judicial branch serving as a check on the other branches of government is extremely important to preventing any other branch from gaining too much power. Something that surprised me the most was the sixteen-year terms that justices are required to serve. This is equal to four presidential terms, which demonstrates the influence and responsibility that these justices hold over our judicial system.