    [United States Government Manual]
    [June 01, 1999]
    [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, One First
    Street NE., Washington, DC 20543. Phone, 202-479-3211.