U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court Worksheet

Part I:

Research and respond to the following 5 U.S. Supreme Court questions. Use academically appropriate websites for your research, and cite your sources. Each response should include at least 50 words, and you are encouraged to incorporate this week's vocabulary terms into your responses. 

1. How was the Supreme Court formed?
The United States Constitution established the supreme court in 1789 during a constitutional convention. With the passage of the Judiciary Act in 1789 supreme court began to take shape, which has made it enjoy rich history since its first assembly in 1790. The court was created mainly to form checks and balances in our government (Khavtasi, 2019). Although the country's Constitution established the supreme court, it gave congress permission how to organize the court with six justices. Further, the Act also helped in the establishment of the lower court system in the country.
2. What powers are granted to the Supreme Court?
It is fundamental that in the United States, in the judicial process Supreme court is the final court of appeal. Also, the court is the guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. When it comes to the matter of federal law, it is the final judicial arbiter in the United States. Using the power delegated to it as an institution in the country, it can declare the state legislature or acts of congress unconstitutional. More importantly, it reviews the country's judicial, executive and administrative action. 

3. How does someone get appointed to the Supreme Court?
The supreme court appointment starts with the presidential nomination. After the selection of the candidate by the president, his name is submitted in writing to the Senate. The Senate will then have the mandate to vote in order to confirm the nominee (Morrison, 2021). The reason for voting is to ensure that both legislative and executive branches of government play a significant role in making the court.

4. What are the roles and responsibilities of the Supreme Court?
In the United States Supreme Court, justices are policymakers whose decisions in the country are effective for both branches of government. They always play an essential role in determining if the country's constitutional rights have been broken and interpreting the law (Wagner, 2014). It is also significant that its mandate ensures that the American people get equal justice under the law, thus indicating that it always functions as a guardian and interpreter of the Constitution.

5. How does the Supreme Court interact with the other 2 U.S. government branches? Consider the concept of checks and balances.
The supreme court is vital because it always acts as a check and balance for both legislative and executive branches. This means that the court can declare presidential actions or set laws unconstitutional. Also, the legislative branch of government is always mandated to make laws, but the supreme court can have the law enacted by this brand of government declared unconstitutional.

Part II:

Research the following Supreme Court cases:

· Brown v. Board of Education 

· Roe v. Wade 

· United States v. Nixon 

Answer each of the 3 questions below separately for each case in a minimum of 50 words. Use academically appropriate websites for your research, and cite your sources. You are encouraged to incorporate this week's vocabulary terms into your responses. 

1. What was the case about?

The first case of Brown v. Board of Education involved racial segregation in public schools. It is significant that the case in the late 1950s and 60s inspired the civil rights movement to take action against racial segregation in public schools (Duignan, 2022). The denial of African American students' admission to all-white public schools made four states consolidate four class-action lawsuits on their behalf.

Also, Roe v. Wade case was about the supreme court's landmark decision on the right to abortion before fetal viability (The Editors, 2022). It is fundamental that this case was about the right of women in the United States to choose whether to have an abortion without excessive government restriction.

When it comes to United States v. Nixon, the case was about the president cannot shield himself from producing in case the court wants to prosecute him for a criminal offense (NCC Staff. 2021). The case took place in 1974 and resulted from the unanimous decision against President Richard Nixon to deliver tape recordings and other materials for evidence.

2. What did the Supreme Court decide?

In the case of the supreme court decision, racial segregation in public schools was a violation of the Constitution Fourteenth amendment, thus voting unanimously to stop discrimination. The court also declared the view of African American students having different schools poor decision because it promoted inequality among the students.

It is fundamental that in the case that took place in 1973 court ruled that women be allowed to abort. This was inspired by the idea that abortion is allowed in case pregnancy endangers a pregnant woman's life or health.
The court's decision in the case indicated that the supreme court has the power to deliberate over executive issues. As the decision by the court showed that even though the president has the privilege to use in criminal trials cannot override the judicial process. Thus, the court decided that the president was to produce tape recordings and other subpoenaed materials to a federal district court. 

3. How did that decision affect American society?

The court's decision greatly impacted American society because, at one point, it promoted equality as it implied that segregation should not be acceptable in public schools. In addition, the decision sparked the Civil Rights movement, which helped to end segregation in the whole of the United States.

The decision that the court made concerning Roe v. Wade had some effect on American society. This is because it gave women total autonomy over pregnancy in the first trimester. Also, as a result of the decision, the laws of 46 states in the country were affected.

The decision by the court indeed affected American society because it showed that executive privilege was an essential power of the president, but in the case of the case, the court can preside over the matter of executive privilege. This showed American society that no one in the country is above the law.