US Constitution Article III & Supreme Court Rules 2026
US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) & Judicial Review Guide
Authoritative handbook on the Supreme Court of the United States — 9 Justices structure, Article III judicial review, Marbury v. Madison precedent, Senate confirmation, and Writ of Certiorari.
SCOTUS Constitutional Concept Evaluator
Select a constitutional principle to explore Supreme Court powers and jurisprudence.
Judicial Review (Marbury v. Madison 1803)
Key Power: Power to declare federal/state laws unconstitutional
Legal Impact: The Supreme Court holds the ultimate authority to strike down laws passed by Congress or executive orders issued by the President if they violate the US Constitution.
Frequently Asked Questions
The US Supreme Court consists of 9 Justices: 1 Chief Justice of the United States and 8 Associate Justices, set by Congress under the Judiciary Act of 1869.
Established in Marbury v. Madison (1803), Judicial Review is the power of the Supreme Court to examine legislative and executive actions and invalidate those that conflict with the US Constitution.
A Writ of Certiorari is an order by the Supreme Court agreeing to hear an appeal from a lower court. The Court grants 'cert' to about 70-80 cases per year out of 7,000+ petitions submitted under the 'Rule of Four'.
Under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, Justices are nominated by the President of the United States and confirmed by a simple majority vote in the US Senate.