Tuesday, September 18, 2012

The Roles of the United States Supreme Court

I. Introduction

Under america Constitution, our federal government structure shall follow a procedure of federal government referred to as Federalism. It refers towards the method of government which provides to your sharing of powers between the central government, called the government as well as the government of every with the person states.
As a result of the federal program of government, we also have two a variety of court systems which interpret and apply the laws. These court systems have their own jurisdiction in hearing and deciding cases. This makes the United States’ judicial system quite certain since it is made up of 2 various and independent court systems that are the federal court system and also the land court system. At the top of this court structure may be the United States Supreme Court that is regarded as the final arbiter of all legal controversies.
The US Supreme Court plays a quite important role in every democratic society. It is regarded as the last location of refuge for every American citizen and non-citizens too and is instrumental in ensuring how the President and the Congressmen and Senators act during the limits from the authority delegated to them by the Constitution. According to John J. Patrick, (2001), “the Supreme Court has utilized its power of judicial review to overturn more than 150 acts of Congress and over 1,000 state laws. The good majority of these invalidations of federal and country acts have occurred during the 20th century… Most of the laws declared unconstitutional since 1925 have involved civil liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights and subsequent amendments concerned of the rights of individuals.” (p.3)
 It is depressing, however, to study that only a few young People in america realize its essential role in our contemporary society. Study shows that only several percentage of our population can name the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court realize their role (Falkenstein, Kate, 2007 p.1)
This essay deals on the role of the United States Supreme Court in a democracy. It's perceived how the principal purpose of the Supreme Court is to interpret the doubtful and ambiguous provisions on the Constitution. This search will show how the purpose with the Supreme Court has evolved over time. During the past years, it has been instrumental in setting policies that have expanded the rights guaranteed under the Bill of Rights. It has also placed restrictions and limitations on vast powers on the Executive and Legislative that's more than what's envisioned by the framers with the Constitution. Numerous cases will be discussed to prove how the Supreme Court has rendered invalid any actions in the Legislative and Executive Branches which are against the fundamental law.

II. Structure in the Federal Court System
The Federal Court System is that court system which deals on the enforcement of federal laws, rules and regulations. It also handles the interpretation and software program from the United States Constitution, acts of Congress and Treaties. It also hears and decides controversies involving the us federal government or its officials individuals in between the U.S along with a foreign federal government and individuals between states.
At the top with the Federal Court System will be the United States Supreme Court. It doesn't have exclusive power to interpret the Constitution because each citizen or non citizen with the United States has the prerogative to interpret the Constitution. It's even so the last arbiter from the interpretation in the constitution. Right after the Supreme Court has made its ruling it is the last and final word. The second level consists on the United States Court of Appeals. Most on the cases heard by the Supreme Court have been decided by the Circuit Court of Appeals. You will discover 12 regional circuits within the United States and every in the 12 regional circuits has 1 court of appeals. The third level consists of the United States District Courts. It is regarded as as the court of general jurisdiction exactly where many federal civil and criminal cases are very first heard. In some instances cases heard by the us District Courts are appealed to the Supreme Court.
Under the supply laws, you'll find two sources of cases which could be filed in federal courts. The first involves Federal Question Jurisdiction. These involve cases that raise the question on the interpretation and software program of the United States Constitution, disputes involving the us government or its officials, or controversies among america and a foreign government. On the other hand, “Diversity” or “Diversity of Citizenship” refers to cases involving citizens of different states or between a US citizen and a citizen of another country. One limitation nevertheless is that these cases are heard by federal courts to ensure fairness and impartiality inside the hearing and the decision of these cases.
III. A couple of Roles of the Supreme Court
A.1 Duty as Interpreter from the United States Constitution
The United States Constitution will be the supreme and paramount law of our country. Its provisions are mostly couched in general terms. It contains guiding principles and policies which have been by no means intended by the framers of our constitution to serve being a product on the every day difficulties with the well-known man. Since its provisions are expressed in general terms questions arise on its appropriate interpretation. Under the principle from the Separation of Power that is firmly entrenched within the United States Constitution, the united states Supreme Court as the greatest court with the nation has the power to interpret the provisions on the Constitution.
It needs to be stressed that the Supreme Court just isn't the exclusive interpreter with the Constitution. Everybody may interpret the provisions with the Constitution. However it's the Supreme Court that's the final arbiter on a matters involving the interpretation with the Constitution. This really is not just a power but also a serious responsibility on the Supreme Courts but also the lower courts.
A.2 Principle of Separation of Power
The basis with the power and duty of the Supreme Court as well as the lower court to interpret the constitution is the principle of Separation of Power. The us Constitution has provided to your division in the 3 primary powers of government. The power to execute and enforce the law was assigned to the Executive. The power to make, amend and repeal the laws was assigned for the Legislative. The Judiciary has power to interpret the law. This principle ensures that there are going to be a learned group of individuals who shall devote their time only towards principal responsibility of ascertaining the intent in the framers from the constitution.
This power can be established under Art III Section Two from the Constitution which clearly provides for the extent with the power with the Judiciary.
A.3 Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113 (1973)
Jane Roe, one pregnant woman filed a suit against the District Attorney with the county. She sought a declaratory judgment against a Texas Statute which make it a crime to procure an abortion or to attempt on abortion except with respect to an abortion procured or attempted by medical suggestions for th7e functionality of saving the life from the mother.
The Supreme Court in this case declared this portion on the statute unconstitutional. Even though the Constitution doesn't explicitly mention any correct of privacy, the Supreme Court has inside a quantity of cases identified that a proper of own privacy, or a guarantee of certain areas or zones of privacy, exists under the Constitution. The appropriate to privacy that is certainly founded on a Fourteenth Amendment is broad adequate to include a woman’s decision whether to get an abortion.
B. Duty as Policy Maker
In the past years, the role of the Supreme Court in a democratic government has greatly expanded. The united states Supreme Court has not merely given breath and life on the wordings with the constitution by ascertaining the intent from the framers with the constitution. It has within the past years actively participated inside the protection of constitutional rights and liberties on the people. Thus, the Supreme Court’s role has evolved to become the guardian from the people’s Bill of Rights. These policies include expanding the meaning from the Bill of rights to your protection on the citizens on the United States and the non-citizens as well.
It could be argued that policy generating was not expressly granted by the constitution towards the Judiciary. However, it is also argued that this power is already inherent in the incredibly thought of the Separation of Power and the principle of Checks and Balances. If the constitution has delegated the power to interpret the law to the Judiciary then it follows that the Judiciary was also given the power to declare any act in the President or the Legislature unconstitutional. If the constitution has empowered the Judiciary to verify any abuses and errors how the other two branches might have committed then it could possibly be inferred that they also have the power to render invalid any act of these a couple of branches. Otherwise, the power delegated to it by the constitution would be an physical exercise of futility.

Conclusion
Some argue against the expanding role in the Supreme Court in our contemporary society. The critics say that the Supreme Court may perhaps have arrogated upon itself the purpose on the President or the Legislative in annulling the acts. However, in this time of uncertainty brought about by changes in the peace and order situation, it is only correct and proper that the Supreme Court’s power be expanded. Concerns for domestic security and protection against terrorist acts have impacted over a liberty and rights of the people. Bank accounts are being checked, communications are becoming scrutinized, and electronic mails and communications are getting opened. In this age and time of uncertainty and turbulence, the public only have the Supreme Court to turn to for their protection.
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