The Constitution and Supreme Court

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

        Something that I learned about the Supreme Court that I didn't know about was their historical rule on slavery, otherwise known as the 20-year rule. The Supreme Court video goes into the detail of the race division that came after a Missouri slave by the name Dred Scott used the constitution to claim his freedom. After this, the court ruled that congress would have no power to ban slavery for the next 20 years, and claimed that black people could never become citizens.

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

        The main take-away point about the Supreme Court is that the justices are there to shed light on a 200-year-old constitution. The video above goes into detail on how the Supreme Court safeguards liberty, preserves the Union, and upholds the Rule of Law. Because of this the Supreme Court has become the most powerful judicial branch in the world. Cited in the video, the narrator continues on to say, "Their legitimacy is in the constitution, but the power rest on public faith in their independence and impartiality."

3.    What was the most surprising thing you learned?

        The most surprising or interesting thing I learned was the "3 year rule." Justice David H Souter explained his experiences when coming into the Supreme Court by saying that his colleagues told him it takes about three years to fully adjust to working as a supreme justice. He then goes on to say that another colleague says that it takes five years until. What makes this so interesting to me is that Justice Souter says, ".... You really start doing your work here properly when you forget that you're here." I find it interesting that everyone has their own experiences when it comes to how much time it takes for them fully adjust to a certain environments, even when it comes to the Supreme Court Justices. 

4.    How did the video change the way you thought of the Supreme Court?

        My views on the Supreme Court has become more sincere for the supreme justices. I feel as though I have a better understanding of what the supreme court really does. Justice Stephen Breyer explains, "All of us are primarily responsible to the law, to this institution... and the public no longer has a direct ability to influence the decision through the ballot box." In my opinion, it seems as though the Supreme Court justices are there to take all of the stress that the people have on their shoulders, and move it to their desks so that they can solve the national questions that American citizen may have.