What is the role of the Supreme Court?

• A. The highest federal court in the United States.
• B. The primary lawmaking body at the national level.
• C. The court that handles only state cases.
• D. A ceremonial council with no judicial authority.

Answer: (A)

At its heart, the Supreme Court’s role is to interpret the Constitution and federal laws and ensure they are applied correctly across the country. It has the final say on what constitutional rights mean and whether laws or government actions fit within the Constitution. This power, known as judicial review, lets the Court strike down laws or executive actions that conflict with the Constitution. The Court mainly hears cases on appeal from lower federal courts or state supreme courts, providing a uniform interpretation of federal law nationwide. It also has limited original jurisdiction in a few dispute types, such as cases between states. This isn’t a lawmaking body, it doesn’t handle only state cases, and it isn’t ceremonial.