Although the recent death of Antonin Scalia created a vacancy in the nine-member Supreme Court, the remaining eight justices are still at work, preparing to weigh in on important issues facing the country.
As members of the nation’s highest court, the justices have the final say in whether laws are constitutional. Supreme Court decisions become the law of the land and affect all Americans—including teens.
A term of the Supreme Court of the United States (also known by the acronym SCOTUS) begins on the first Monday in October, and Court sessions run through June or July of the following year. The Court is asked to hear approximately 8,000 cases each term—but accepts only about 80.
Despite its critical role in our democracy, the Supreme Court remains a mystery to many people. Read on for a quick overview of how it works.