What it actually is

The Supreme Court is the top court in the federal judicial system. The Constitution creates the judicial branch, and Congress organized the Court after the Constitution was written (including by the Judiciary Act of 1789).

A small group of justices sits on the Court. They are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they remain on the Court unless they retire, resign, or are removed through impeachment and conviction. Currently the Court has nine justices (one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices).

The Court decides cases about federal law and the Constitution. It also has limited original jurisdiction in certain kinds of cases, such as disputes between states and cases involving ambassadors or other public ministers.

How it works

Most cases reach the Supreme Court after being decided in lower federal courts or state courts. Parties ask the Court to review a case with a petition for certiorari, and the Court chooses a small number of cases each term to hear.

For cases it accepts, the Court reviews written briefs, hears oral arguments, and the justices meet in conference to vote. The Court issues written opinions explaining the decision. A majority opinion becomes binding precedent on questions of federal law and constitutional interpretation. The Court's rulings are final unless changed by a later Court decision or by a constitutional amendment.

A real example

In an early, important case the Court established its power to review and invalidate laws that conflict with the Constitution; this principle is central to how the Court functions.

In another landmark decision, the Court held that laws requiring racial segregation in public schools violated the Constitution, reversing the legal rule that had allowed "separate but equal" public education.

Why it matters to you

Supreme Court decisions can affect everyday life: they shape rights, how laws are applied, and what actions government at all levels may take. Rulings can touch voting rules, privacy, free speech, criminal procedure, and many other areas.

Because the Court resolves conflicts about the Constitution and federal law, its decisions can change legal rules across the whole country, not just in one state.

Common misunderstandings

The Court doesn't make laws like Congress; its formal role is to interpret the Constitution and statutes. That interpretation can affect public policy, but the Court's role is judicial, not legislative.

The Court is influential but not entirely unchecked: Congress can pass new laws or change statutes in response to decisions, and the Constitution can be amended. The Court also accepts only a small fraction of petitions each year, so most legal disputes end at lower court levels.