[United States Government Manual]
[May 31, 1996]
[Pages 67-68]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]
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THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
United States Supreme Court Building
One First Street NE., Washington, DC 20543
Phone, 202-479-3000
Members:
Chief Justice of the United States William H. Rehnquist
Associate Justices John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day
O'Connor, Antonin Scalia,
Anthony M. Kennedy, David
H. Souter, Clarence Thomas,
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen
G. Breyer
Officers:
Clerk William K. Suter
Reporter of Decisions Frank D. Wagner
Librarian Shelley L. Dowling
Marshal Dale E. Bosley
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Article III, section 1, of the Constitution of the United States
provides that ``[t]he 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.'' The Supreme Court of the
United States was created in accordance with this provision and by
authority of the Judiciary Act of September 24, 1789 (1 Stat. 73). It
was organized on February 2, 1790.
The Supreme Court comprises the Chief Justice of the United States
and such number of Associate Justices as may be fixed by Congress. Under
that authority, and by virtue of act of June 25, 1948 (28 U.S.C. 1), the
number of Associate Justices is eight. Power to nominate the Justices is
vested in the President of the United States, and appointments are made
with the advice and consent of the Senate. Article III, section 1, of
the Constitution further provides that ``[t]he Judges, both of the
supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good
Behaviour, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services, a
Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in
Office.'' A Justice may, if so desired, retire at the age of 70 after
serving for 10 years as a Federal judge or at age 65 after 15 years of
service.
The Clerk, the Reporter of Decisions, the Librarian, and the Marshal
are appointed by the Court to assist in the performance of its
functions. Other Court officers, including the Administrative Assistant,
the Court Counsel, the Curator, the Director of Data Systems, and the
Public Information Officer, are appointed by the Chief Justice to assist
him with the administrative aspects of his position.
[[Page 68]]
The library is open to members of the bar of the Court, attorneys
for the various Federal departments and agencies, and Members of
Congress. Only members of the bar of the Court may practice before the
Supreme Court.
The term of the Court begins, by law, the first Monday in October of
each year and continues as long as the business before the Court
requires, usually until about the end of June. Six members constitute a
quorum. Approximately 7,000 cases are passed upon in the course of a
term. In addition, some 1,200 applications of various kinds are filed
each year that can be acted upon by a single Justice.
Jurisdiction According to the Constitution (art. III, sec. 2), ``[t]he
judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising
under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties
made, or which shall be made, under their Authority;--to all Cases
affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls;--to all Cases
of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;--to Controversies to which the
United States shall be a Party;--to Controversies between two or more
States;--between a State and Citizens of another State;--between
Citizens of different States;--between Citizens of the same State
claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or
the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.
``In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and
Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court
shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before
mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as
to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the
Congress shall make.''
Appellate jurisdiction has been conferred upon the Supreme Court by
various statutes, under the authority given Congress by the
Constitution. The basic statute effective at this time in conferring and
controlling jurisdiction of the Supreme Court may be found in 28 U.S.C.
1251, 1253, 1254, 1257-1259, and various special statutes. Congress has
no authority to change the original jurisdiction of this Court.
Rulemaking Power Congress has from time to time conferred upon the
Supreme Court power to prescribe rules of procedure to be followed by
the lower courts of the United States. Pursuant to these statutes there
are now in force rules promulgated by the Court to govern civil and
criminal cases in the district courts, bankruptcy proceedings, admiralty
cases, appellate proceedings, and the trial of misdemeanors before U.S.
magistrate judges.
For further information concerning the Supreme Court, contact the Public
Information Office, United States Supreme Court Building, 1 First Street
NE., Washington, DC 20543. Phone, 202-479-3211.