#BackToSchool The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest court of our land. The 9 justices decide the constitutionality of our laws and they hear select cases as a court of last appeal. Since Presidents pick nominees, elections & voting matter a great deal!
Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary. Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
2/19
Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it permits Congress to decide how to organize it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789. This Act created a Supreme Court with six justices & established the lower federal court system.
3/19
Over the years, various Acts of Congress have altered the number of seats on the Supreme Court, from a low of five to a high of 10. 4/19
#SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
Shortly after the Civil War, the number of seats on the Court was fixed at 9. Today, there is one Chief Justice & 8 Associate Justices. Like all federal judges, justices are appointed by the President & are confirmed by the Senate. They, typically, hold office for life. 5/19
Article III, Section II of the Constitution establishes the jurisdiction (legal ability to hear a case) of the Supreme Court. #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (a case is tried before the Court) over certain cases, e.g., suits between two or more states and/or cases involving ambassadors and other public ministers. 7/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
The Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction (the Court can hear the case on appeal) on almost any other case that involves a point of constitutional and/or federal law. 8/19 #SupremeCourt #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
When exercising its appellate jurisdiction, the Court, with a few exceptions, does not have to hear a case. The Certiorari Act of 1925 gives the Court the discretion to decide whether or not to do so. 9/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
In a petition for a writ of certiorari, a party asks the Court to review its case. The Supreme Court agrees to hear about 100-150 of the more than 7,000 cases that it is asked to review each year. 10/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA #Democracy
The best-known power of the Supreme Court is judicial review, or the ability of the Court to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution, is not found within the text of the Constitution itself. 11/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #JudicialReview
The Supreme Court established this doctrine in the case of Marbury v. Madison (1803).
In this case, the Court had to decide whether an Act of Congress or the Constitution was the supreme law of the land. 12/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
The Judiciary Act of 1789 gave the Supreme Court original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus (legal orders compelling government officials to act in accordance with the law). #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA
The Supreme Court plays a very important role in our constitutional system of government. First, as the highest court in the land, it is the court of last resort for those looking for justice. 14/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA #democracy
Second, due to #SCOTUS power of judicial review, it plays an essential role in ensuring that each branch of government recognizes the limits of its own power. 15/19 #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA #democracy
Third, it protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution. 16/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA #CivilRights
Finally, it sets appropriate limits on democratic government by ensuring that popular majorities cannot pass laws that harm and/or take undue advantage of unpopular minorities. 17/19 #SCOTUS #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA #democracy
In essence, #SCOTUS serves to ensure that the changing views of a majority do not undermine the fundamental values common to all Americans, i.e., freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law. 18/19 #backtoschool #DemsWork4USA #AmericanValues
As Americans, we need to understand how our judiciary is designed to function to protect our democracy, our values & our human rights. We need to demand the highest court in our land be beyond political influence. Vote wisely to ensure our justices are chosen with due care. 19/19
This excellent and important information on the history and workings of the Supreme Court can be found here.. uscourts.gov/about-federal-…

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More from @didikins4life

6 Jul
#BackToSchool Conservatives like to insist that they revere the U.S. Constitution, though many have very little familiarity with it. There’s many more amendments than just their favorite, #2.
1/ Thread #Constitution #DemsWork4USA
We have 3 Branches of Government:
1. Legislative: makes laws; Article 1
2. Executive: enforces laws; Article 2
3. Judicial: interprets laws; Article 3
2/ #backtoschool #Constitution
When the Constitution was written there were two entrenched factions. Federalists: supported the Constitution; wanted a strong central government,;  Madison, Hamilton, and Jay wrote Federalist Papers trying to get the public to support the Constitution.
3/ #backtoschool
Read 34 tweets
3 Jul
#BackToSchool#Filibuster” is a funny word. It rolls off the tongue surprisingly well for a blocking tactic! Its history is longer than you’d think.
Here’s a look at the filibuster, how it works and the current political firestorm over it.
apnews.com/article/donald…
1/20
WHAT’S A FILIBUSTER?
Unlike the House, the Senate places few constraints on lawmakers’ right to speak.
Senators can easily use the chamber’s rules to hinder or block votes. Collectively these procedural delays are called #filibusters. 2/20
Senate records say the term began appearing in the mid-19th century. The word comes from a Dutch term for “freebooter” and the Spanish “filibusteros” that were used to describe pirates. 3/20 #Filibuster #Pirates
Read 20 tweets
22 Jun
#BackToSchool With all the investigations & talk about Congressional Committees, it’s important to review some history & understand the impact CC’s have had in the past? Why is it so much harder to get accountability today? (Hint: Think elephant)
open.lib.umn.edu/americangovern… 1/13
Conducting investigations is one of the most public activities in which congressional committees engage. 2/13 #JusticeMatters #investigation #accountability #TheBigLie #demswork4usa
During the Progressive Era of the 1890s through 1920s, members could gain the attention of muckraking journalists by holding investigative
hearings to expose corruption in business and government. 3/13 #Corruption #accountability #Congress #TheBigLie
Read 13 tweets
18 Jun
#BackToSchool With all the investigations and coverage of House/Senate Committees, it’s important to review how it all works, how it’s structured & what it all means. What do Congressional Committees do? How are members selected?
open.lib.umn.edu/americangovern… 1/18
In 1885, Woodrow Wilson famously observed, “Congress in session is Congress on public exhibition, whilst Congress in its committee-rooms is Congress at work” (Wilson, 1885). This statement is no less true today. 2/18 #demswork4usa #Congress
Committees are the lifeblood of Congress. They develop legislation, oversee executive agencies and programs, and conduct investigations.
There are different types of committees that are responsible for particular aspects of congressional work. 3/18 #demswork4usa #Congress
Read 18 tweets
25 Mar
This is the #DemPartyPlatform for 2020. This part is called: 🇺🇸 Advancing American Interests:
Global Economy and Trade
🇺🇸 Only one party will fight for every American job and will make sure American workers have a fair shot in the global economy. 1/8
#Democrats will fight for every American job and will make sure American workers have a fair shot in the global economy. 2/8 #AmericanWorkers
For too long, the global trading system has failed to keep its promises to American workers. Too many corporations have rushed to outsource jobs, and too many countries have reneged on commitments to be honest and transparent partners. 3/8
#DemPartyPlatform #AmericanWorkers
Read 8 tweets
19 Mar
This is the #DemPartyPlatform for 2020. This part is called: 🇺🇸 Democracy and Human Rights
🇺🇸 Only one party believes that the United States has an urgent, moral obligation and strategic interest to help alleviate suffering around the globe. 1/8
#Democrats believe that the United States has an urgent, moral obligation and strategic interest to help alleviate suffering around the globe. 2/8 #DemPartyPlatform #HumanRights #HumanitarianEnergy
Entrenched conflicts and unprecedented levels of forced migration have pushed the world into an acute humanitarian crisis that spills across borders. 3/8 #DemPartyPlatform #HumanitarianCrisis
Read 8 tweets

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