Supreme Court Reflection

The Supreme Court: Power and Public Trust

Before watching the two videos, I knew that the Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. However, I had not known how much the court's structure and powers changed throughout the history. The first fact that was notable to me was that the Constitution never set the number of nine justices.

The Congress had changed the Court's size many times until 1869 when nine justices were fixed. I had not known about the "rule of four" where four justices must agree to take a case, although usually five justices decide it.

Thousands of cases come to the court and only a few of them get accepted by the Supreme Court, which makes each case chosen very important.

The most important idea that I learned from the video was that the Supreme Court is not only resolving disputes, but its decisions interpret the Constitution and affect the lives of Americans for years. The case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803 introduced judicial review, which allows the Court to evaluate if the law and governmental actions comply with the Constitution.

The fact that such a tremendous power is not specified in the Constitution is astonishing. Even more astonishing is the limitation of the Court's power: it does not have any police or army and thus cannot force the laws into action. It can do so only because of the respect and trust of the citizens and government officials.

Thus, I considered the Supreme Court an almost omnipotent institution before watching the videos. Now, I understand that the Supreme Court depends much on trust, traditions and reputation.

In addition, the videos helped me understand how the Supreme Court's procedure works: the justices read briefs, discuss the cases orally, meet privately, vote and write their majority, concurring and dissenting opinions. While the procedure itself is silent, the consequences are not.

With one decision, the Supreme Court may change the rights, laws and government regulations of the whole country. Thus, the videos helped me see that the Supreme Court is a powerful and vulnerable institution at once.

Top Five Sources Of News And Information

 

My Top Five Sources of News and Information

ESPN

ESPN is one of my main sources because sports are a major part of both my personal life and future career. I use it to follow scores, breaking news, player updates, trades, and stories from nearly every major sport. I also enjoy its interviews and analysis because they provide more information than a basic game recap. I would recommend ESPN to anyone who wants reliable sports coverage in one convenient place.

The Athletic

The Athletic is another source I use for sports news, especially when I want more detailed reporting. Its articles often explain what is happening behind the scenes with teams, players, and organizations. Since I am interested in working in sports media, I also pay attention to how its reporters tell stories and present information. I would recommend The Athletic to serious sports fans who want deeper coverage than short updates or social media posts.

Associated Press

The Associated Press is one of my preferred sources for national and international news because its reporting is usually clear, direct, and focused on verified facts. I use it when I want to understand an important event without reading an article filled with unnecessary opinions. It also covers a wide variety of subjects, including politics, business, sports, entertainment, and world events. I would recommend AP News to anyone looking for straightforward and dependable reporting.

CNN

CNN is a source I check when there is a major breaking story developing in the United States or another part of the world. Its website is updated frequently and includes written reports, photographs, videos, and live coverage. Having several types of media available makes complicated stories easier to follow. I would recommend CNN as a useful starting point for breaking news, although I believe important stories should always be compared with information from other sources.

The New York Times

The New York Times is a source I use when I want detailed reporting and a better understanding of why an event matters. It covers topics such as politics, culture, business, technology, sports, and international affairs. I especially appreciate its feature stories because they often include background information and perspectives that shorter articles may leave out. I would recommend The New York Times to readers who want to look beyond headlines and learn more about the larger meaning of a story.