Blog post 2: The Supreme Court

During an 8th-grade class trip to Washington, D.C., I was introduced to the topic of the Supreme Court. While I learned about the government, I initially struggled to learn about its structure. Over time, I realized that the government operates within a framework of rules and laws, and I learned how those are applied in society. The two Supreme Court videos I watched were extremely insightful, giving an overview of the nine justices, their average sixteen-year tenure, and the demanding day-to-day responsibilities of the court.

After watching these videos, I learned more about the Supreme Court's structure and function. The court receives over a hundred petitions for certiorari each week, totaling approximately 7,000 annually. Of these, only about a hundred are chosen for full review. This selective process highlights the importance of the court's careful deliberation and focuses on cases with broad constitutional significance.

One key takeaway from the video is that the Supreme Court serves as the highest authority in the United States government. It hears cases related to the Constitution and has the power to strike down laws that are deemed unconstitutional. This ensures that all laws align with the nation's founding principles.

What surprised me most was learning about the roles of majority and minority perspectives in decision-making. The majority is a group of justices who agree on a court decision, establishing it as a binding legal precedent. However, the minority consists of judges who disagree. These dissenting judges may submit formal opinions clarifying their opposing viewpoints, though such opinions do not set legal precedents. Additionally, I was surprised to learn that only 100 justices have served throughout American history, and their life terms often extend beyond the tenure of the president who appointed them.

These videos demonstrated the Supreme Court's critical role as a liaison between the Executive, Legislative, and people. The Court's potential to change history through its decisions is both interesting and shocking. The Court promotes democracy and defends the rights of all citizens. Learning more about the Supreme Court has given me a greater appreciation for how thoroughly the judges weigh each issue and the long-term influence their rulings have on American culture.