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The '''Supreme Court of the United States''' (SCOTUS) is the highest court of the judiciary of the [[United States of America]].

The '''Supreme Court of the United States''' (SCOTUS) is the highest court of the judiciary of the [[United States of America]]. In recent years the Court has been accepting fewer cases for review, declining to a record low of only about 60 cases in its 2023-2024 Term.

[[Alexander Hamilton]] originally described the federal judiciary as the "least dangerous branch" due to the fact that it does not have the power to enforce its rulings, or control the country's [[finance]]s.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa78.htm Federalist #78</ref> However, [[liberal]]s on the Supreme Court have grabbed power in the last half-century to improperly exceed the authority of the other branches of government.

[[Alexander Hamilton]] originally described the federal judiciary as the "least dangerous branch" because it does not have the power to enforce its rulings, or control the country's [[finance]]s.<ref>http://www.constitution.org/fed/federa78.htm Federalist #78</ref> However, [[liberal]]s on the Supreme Court have grabbed power in the last half-century to improperly exceed the authority of the other branches of government.

The Supreme Court hears and decides fewer and fewer cases: 150 per year in the mid-1900s, to only 80-90 cases in 1990s and 2000s, to only 60-70 around 2020, and then only 50-60 cases in 2022.<ref>https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/supreme-court-no-decision-bad-decision-it-s-happening-too-n1295991</ref>

The Supreme Court hears and decides fewer and fewer cases: 150 per year in the mid-1900s, to only 80-90 cases in 1990s and 2000s, to only 60-70 around 2020, and then only 50-60 cases in 2022.<ref>https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/supreme-court-no-decision-bad-decision-it-s-happening-too-n1295991</ref>

==How Cases are Heard==

==How Cases are Heard==

With the exception of a few cases (mainly involving disputes between states) where the Court has original jurisdiction, a party to a case from a lower court (either a Federal appellate court, or a state supreme court if the party is arguing that a United States Constitutional right was violated) must request the court to grant a writ of [[certiorari]] to hear the case.

Except for a few cases (mainly involving disputes between states) where the Court has original jurisdiction, a party to a case from a lower court (either a Federal appellate court, or a state supreme court if the party is arguing that a United States Constitutional right was violated) must request the court to grant a writ of [[certiorari]] to hear the case.

The Court grants the writ in only about one out of every 100 petitions filed with it each year.  And when granted, not all cases result in an actual court hearing: the court may grant the writ in a case similar to one where the Court did render an opinion, but then instead of a hearing will remand (return to the lower court) the case to reconsider its decision in light of the Court's opinion in the similar case (this is common if the opinion was rendered either during a term of the Court or the immediately preceding prior term).

The Court grants the writ in only about one out of every 100 petitions filed with it each year.  And when granted, not all cases result in an actual court hearing: the court may grant the writ in a case similar to one where the Court did render an opinion, but then instead of a hearing will remand (return to the lower court) the case to reconsider its decision in light of the Court's opinion in the similar case (this is common if the opinion was rendered either during a term of the Court or the immediately preceding prior term).

When a case is heard, the Court hears the cases ''[[en banc]]'' (as opposed to lower level courts where a panel may hear the case).  Time limits are very strict, usually only one hour (divided between the parties) is granted (though, in some exceptional cases, extra time may be granted) and the parties are frequently interrupted by a Justice asking a question or making a comment (though notably, Justice Clarence Thomas had a long period where he didn't ask a question from the bench).

When a case is heard, the Court hears the cases ''[[en banc]]'' (as opposed to lower-level courts where a panel may hear the case).  Time limits are very strict, usually only one hour (divided between the parties) is granted (though, in some exceptional cases, extra time may be granted) and the parties are frequently interrupted by a Justice asking a question or making a comment (though notably, Justice Clarence Thomas had a long period where he didn't ask a question from the bench).

==Opinions==

==Opinions==

Prior to the [[Marshall Court]], the Court issued [[opinion]]s in ''seriatim''. This means that each Justice wrote his own opinion and delivered it from the bench. Currently, the Court issues one opinion, said to be "the opinion of the Court". Opinions tend to have the history of the case, followed by the Court's reasoning and action. Generally the opinion will be written by a member of the majority, chosen by either the Chief Justice or the most senior Justice in the majority.

Prior to the [[Marshall Court]], the Court issued [[opinion]]s in ''seriatim''. This means that each Justice wrote his own opinion and delivered it from the bench. Currently, the Court issues one opinion, said to be "the opinion of the Court." Opinions tend to have the history of the case, followed by the Court's reasoning and action. Generally, the opinion will be written by a member of the majority, chosen by either the Chief Justice or the most senior Justice in the majority.

When a majority of Justices agrees to the opinion, it is called the [[Majority Opinion|majority opinion]]. Occasionally, a majority of Justices agrees to the [[remedy]], yet a minority of Justices agrees with the main opinion. This is called a [[plurality opinion]].  

When a majority of Justices agree to the opinion, it is called the [[Majority Opinion|majority opinion]]. Occasionally, a majority of Justices agree to the [[remedy]], yet a minority of Justices agree with the main opinion. This is called a [[plurality opinion]].  

Justices that disagree with the Court's action can and frequently do write [[dissenting opinion]]s, which state their objections to the ruling. When a Justice agrees with an action, but not the reasoning behind it, he may write a [[concurring opinion]], which states the reasoning he would have used. Such opinions have no bearing on the case at bar, but are often used later in time as justification for legal rulings.

Justices that disagree with the Court's action can and frequently do write [[dissenting opinion]]s, which state their objections to the ruling. When a Justice agrees with an action, but not the reasoning behind it, he may write a [[concurring opinion]], which states the reasoning he would have used. Such opinions have no bearing on the case at bar, but are often used later as justification for legal rulings.

==Conservative and liberal votes==

==Conservative and liberal votes==

* Hall, Kermit L., ed. ''The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (2005) [https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-Supreme-United-States/dp/0195176618/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525239&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search], complete text online at many academic libraries.

* Hall, Kermit L., ed. ''The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (2005) [https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-Supreme-United-States/dp/0195176618/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525239&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search], complete text online at many academic libraries.

** Patrick, John J. ed. ''The Young Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (1994)

** Patrick, John J. ed. ''The Young Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (1994)

* Hall, Kermit L., and James W Ely Jr., eds. ''The Oxford Guide to United State Supreme Court Decisions'' (2009) [https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Guide-United-Supreme-Decisions/dp/019537939X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525239&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search], complete text online at many academic libraries.

* Hall, Kermit L., and James W Ely Jr., eds. ''The Oxford Guide to United States Supreme Court Decisions'' (2009) [https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Guide-United-Supreme-Decisions/dp/019537939X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525239&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search], complete text online at many academic libraries.

* Rehnquist, William H. ''The Supreme Court'' (2002), a popular introduction [https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Court-William-H-Rehnquist/dp/0375708618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525459&sr=8-1  excerpt and text search]

* Rehnquist, William H. ''The Supreme Court'' (2002), a popular introduction [https://www.amazon.com/Supreme-Court-William-H-Rehnquist/dp/0375708618/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525459&sr=8-1  excerpt and text search]

* Savage, David G. ''Turning Right: The Making of the Rehnquist Supreme Court'' (1993) [https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Right-Making-Rehnquist-Supreme/dp/0471595535/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525459&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]

* Savage, David G. ''Turning Right: The Making of the Rehnquist Supreme Court'' (1993) [https://www.amazon.com/Turning-Right-Making-Rehnquist-Supreme/dp/0471595535/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233525459&sr=8-2 excerpt and text search]