Blog Post #2: Supreme Court

What did you learn about the Supreme Court that you didn't already know?

Before watching the videos (Part 1& Part 2) I did not know much about The Supreme Court but now I am much more educated. The videos have helped me develop a deeper understanding about what exactly the Supreme Court is and how it operates. The information strengthened my knowledge on the history behind the United States government. I learned that the Supreme Court has become a model for the high courts throughout the world and it remains the “most powerful body on the earth” (Part 1). The Supreme Court interprets a 200-year-old constitution which develops the law that we live under each and every day.

What is the most important take-away point about the Supreme Court?

One important takeaway that stood out to me from the two video is that the Justices are normal people that are highly trained in the law. I think it is important to know that the people running our government are humans just like everyone else. In the video it mentioned there have been over 100 Supreme Court Justices serving an average of 16 years and many stay longer than that. I find this fascinating because it must be a difficult job serving in government at such a high level. Justice Souter said that he was told to give it many years to get used to the job because it is overwhelming and strange at first (Part 1). I liked hearing the perspectives of the Justice’s throughout the video because it reminds us that their job, although it is very important and well known, is still just a job. The protection of our freedoms is one of the ways in which it maintains our country. Our Constitution is upheld by The Supreme Court, which is a very important part of our government and shapes how our country runs.

What was the most surprising thing you learned?
One surprising thing that I learned from watching the video is that The Supreme Court receives hundreds of cases per week which is around 7,000 a year but they only choose to accept 100 cases to work on per year. This is considered as the option drafting process which takes weeks or even months to complete Although they only take 100 cases they still take the time to look at each case from a similar lens to be just and fair. I did not realize how many cases they brought to The Supreme Court. At the end of the video a justice explained that everyone must speak once, before any of them can speak a second time. This makes it fair so that each Justice has a say in the cases that they are working on. Learning about the amount of cases they receive versus how many they take has enabled me to gain a deeper understanding on how The Supreme Court runs.

How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?
The video changed the way that I view The Supreme Court because I realized the crucial role that it plays in our country's government. It was interesting seeing what different Justices said about their jobs and their views on the way The Supreme Court works. It has played a huge part in developing our nation and building the United States into the country that it is today. It was fascinating to learn more about The Supreme Court and how it is the most powerful branch of government in the United States.