[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.