use the texts law of the land and TFK explains: the supreme court to answer the question. which option describes what happens when the supreme court hears a case
When the Supreme Court hears a case, they apply the "law of the land" to make their decision. This means they consider the Constitution, federal laws, and previous court decisions to determine the outcome of the case. Once they have reached a decision, they issue a ruling which becomes the law of the land and is binding on all lower courts. Additionally, TFK explains that the Supreme Court only hears cases that involve important constitutional issues, conflicts between two or more states, or cases with national significance. They may also hear cases to review decisions made by lower courts to ensure they were made in accordance with the law.
can you make this sound like a 5th grader
When the Supreme Court listens to a case, they have to follow the important rules and decisions that other smart people made before. They look at the Constitution and other federal laws to decide what should happen in the case. When they make a decision, it becomes the law that everyone has to follow. The Supreme Court only takes cases that are really important, like ones that have to do with the Constitution or affect the whole country. They also check other court decisions to make sure they were fair and followed the law.
When the Supreme Court hears a case, it engages in a process that involves several steps. Let's break down the process and understand what happens:
1. Selection of Cases: The Supreme Court receives thousands of case appeals each year, but it has limited resources and can only handle a small fraction of them. The Court exercises its discretionary jurisdiction to select cases that raise significant legal issues, often involving conflicting interpretations of federal law or constitutional questions.
2. Filing of Briefs: Once the Court accepts a case, the parties involved submit written legal arguments known as briefs. The appellant (party appealing a lower court decision) presents their arguments in the appellant's brief, and the appellee (opposing party) responds with their arguments in the appellee's brief. Additionally, interested third parties can submit amicus curiae briefs, offering their insights on the case.
3. Oral Arguments: After the briefs have been filed, the Court schedules oral arguments. During these arguments, attorneys from both sides present their case before the justices. The justices then have the opportunity to question the attorneys, seeking clarifications and challenging their legal positions.
4. Decision-Making: Following oral arguments, the justices hold private conferences to discuss and debate the case. Every justice has an equal vote, and decisions are made by a majority. The chief justice (or the most senior justice in the majority, if the chief justice is in the minority) assigns a justice from the majority to write the Court's opinion.
5. Issuing the Opinion: Once the decision has been reached, one or more written opinions are issued. The majority opinion represents the Court's final ruling, explaining the legal reasoning behind the decision. In some cases, justices may write concurring opinions to express additional perspectives or dissenting opinions to voice their disagreement with the majority.
6. Precedent and Stare Decisis: Supreme Court decisions have significant legal authority and set precedents for future cases. The principle of stare decisis, which means "to stand by things decided," guides the Court to respect and adhere to its prior rulings when similar issues arise.
In summary, when the Supreme Court hears a case, it selects cases for review, receives written arguments, holds oral arguments, and decides upon a judgment. The Court's decision is then explained through written opinions, shaping the law of the land and establishing legal precedents for future cases.