There are 9 Supreme Court justices who decide cases by majority rule to avoid ties. Justices are nominated by the president and approved by the Senate, serving lifetime appointments. The Chief Justice leads the Court and precedents set by the Supreme Court guide all other US courts. Important firsts include the first African American, woman, and Hispanic justices. The current justices were appointed by presidents from Bush to Trump.

2.  There are 9 justices
 Majority Rules- Decisions can be 5-4
 Odd number so there can never be a tie

3.  Justices are nominated by the President and
approved by the Senate
 Example of checks and balances
 Justices appointed for life
 Death, Retirement or Impeachment

4.  Chief Justice- Head of the Supreme Court
 John Roberts- (2005-Present)
 Replaced William Rehnquist- (1986-2005)

5.  Supreme Court sets important legal
precedents- legal decision that acts as a guide
to other situations or decisions
 All courts in the US must follow Supreme
Court decisions

6.  Supreme Court Firsts:
 First African American- Thurgood Marshall
 First Woman- Sandra Day O’Connor
 First Hispanic- Sonia Sotomayor

7.  Current Members (and the Presidents that
appointed them)
 Chief Justice John Roberts (George W. Bush)
 Elena Kagan (Barack Obama)
 Neil Gorsuch (Donald Trump)

8.  Brett Kavanaugh (Donald Trump)
 Clarence Thomas (George H.W. Bush)
 Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Bill Clinton)

9.  Stephen Breyer (Bill Clinton)
 Samuel Alito (George W. Bush)
 Sonya Sotomayor (Barack Obama)