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[[Image:Supreme Court.jpg|thumb|260px|US Supreme Court Building]]

[[Image:Supreme Court.jpg|thumb|200px|US Supreme Court Building]]

The '''Supreme Court of the United States''' (SCOTUS) is the highest court of the judiciary of the [[United States of America]].  Between 1800 and 1935, it met primarily in the basement of the United States [[Capitol]] building, then in the Old Senate Chamber, until it moved into its present location at One First Street NE, [[Washington, D.C.]]. Despite being considered a weak organization in its earlier years, it has become a powerhouse that has taken the lead on issues of social justice.  

The '''Supreme Court of the United States''' (SCOTUS) is the highest court of the judiciary of the [[United States of America]].  Between 1800 and 1935, it met primarily in the basement of the United States [[Capitol]] building, then in the Old Senate Chamber, until it moved into its present location at One First Street NE, [[Washington, D.C.]]. Despite being considered a weak organization in its earlier years, it has become a powerhouse that has taken the lead on issues of social justice.  

==Structure==

==Structure==

The Court is currently composed of eight [[Associate Justice]]s and one [[Chief Justice of the United States of America|Chief Justice]]. To assist them there are many clerks, guards, and staff.  Cases are heard ''[[en banc]]'' whenever the Court is in session. Historians generally divide Court history into eras named after the Chief Justice then presiding (e.g., the [[Rehnquist Court]]).  

The Court is currently composed of eight [[Associate Justice]]s and one [[Chief Justice of the United States of America|Chief Justice]]. To assist them there are many clerks, guards, and staff.  Cases are heard ''[[en banc]]'' whenever the Court is in session. Historians generally divide Court history into eras named after the Chief Justice then presiding (e.g., the [[Rehnquist Court]]).  

 

Justices are appointed by the U.S. [[President]] with the advice and approval of the [[U.S. Senate]].  Justices must be approved by a simple majority of the Senate.

Justices are appointed by the U.S. [[President]] with the advice and approval of the [[U.S. Senate]].  Justices must be approved by a simple majority of the Senate.

In ten of the last eleven appointments, the new justice was more conservative than the one replaced.

In ten of the last eleven appointments, the new justice was more conservative than the one replaced.

==Current members==

==Current Members==

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==See Also==

==See also==

*[[State supreme court]], usually the corresponding court in a [[state court]] system

*[[State supreme court]], usually the corresponding court in a [[state court]] system

==Further reading==

 

==Further Reading==

* Hall, Kermit L., ed. ''The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States'' (2005) [http://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) [http://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)

* Rehnquist, William H. ''The Supreme Court'' (2002), a popular introduction [http://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 [http://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) [http://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) [http://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]

== References ==

== References ==