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United States. Supreme Court
A small group with enormous influence, this court has shaped American life for more than two centuries through landmark rulings on rights, government power, and the meaning of the Constitution.
1 Audiobook
Report of the Decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Opinions of the Judges Thereof, in the Case of Dred Scott versus John F. A. Sandford December Term, 1856.
by United States. Supreme Court, Benjamin C. (Benjamin Chew) Howard
About the author
Created under Article III of the Constitution and organized by the Judiciary Act of 1789, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States. It serves as the final interpreter of federal law and the Constitution, hearing a limited number of cases that often have national consequences.
The Court’s authority grew especially after Marbury v. Madison in 1803, the decision that established judicial review and made the Court a central force in American government. Over time, its rulings have touched nearly every part of public life, from civil rights and free speech to federal power and the balance between state and national authority.
Today, the Court is made up of one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Even though it decides only a small share of the petitions it receives, its opinions can reshape law, politics, and daily life across the country, which is why the Supreme Court remains one of the most closely watched institutions in the United States.