AMERICAN CIVILIZATION

US SOCIETY THROUGH THE PRISM OF THE SUPREME COURT

The us supreme court today

A NEXUS

Role of media in framing abortion debate

Grassroots movements (protests)

Federal/ state authority and legislation supreme court let the states decide

Try to restrict interstate movements (louisiana)

Religion & values

History and Geography

Nine members in supreme court: a Chief Justice and 8 Associate Justices the Chief is the figurehead
but he isn't a special member
A convention, not a requirement

Lifetime appointment : until they die retire or resign, 15 years on average

Why this system ?

They can't be beaten at elections, they don't have to follow the president,... they can do what
they feel is right.

IN THE CONSTITUTION

Article 1 the US congress, legislative branch

Article 2 the executive branch

Article 3 the judicial branch

PROCEDURE

Getting to the supreme court

The supreme court can't decide to review a law, case has to go through the appeal sytem

Opponents of a law try to find suitable cases, in order to have the Supreme Court review it

The Supreme Court chooses to hear a case or not, responding to a writ of certoriari (written
request)

Interested parties submit amicus briefs

Procedure

Oral arguments by each party

Questions, discussion by the nine judges

Secret deliberations, then vote and written results, months later

A majority opinion explaining the decision
A minority opinion by judges who didn't agree with the majority

The court and the nation