Constitution establishes one supreme court and inferior federal courts. Congress created Supreme Court in 1789 with six justices. Current Court has one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. Justices serve life terms with fixed salaries
Montesquieu's "The Spirit of the Laws" inspired separation of powers concept. Founding Fathers like Madison warned against unchecked power. Madison believed government should control both governed and itself
Supreme Court is highest federal court with nine members. Chief Justice and eight associate justices meet in Washington, D.C. Justices serve lifetime terms unless impeached. Court receives about 7,000 petitions annually, grants about 80
Opinion is a judgement that is not conclusive, unlike verifiable facts. Opinions can be supported by facts and principles, becoming arguments. Different people may draw opposing conclusions despite agreeing on facts
Precedent is judicial decisions that guide future similar cases. Stare decisis principle requires courts to follow past decisions. Precedent can be binding (Supreme Court decisions) or persuasive (neighboring courts). Ratio decidendi forms binding precedent, while obiter dicta is persuasive
Chief federal law enforcement officers in 94 judicial districts. Appointed by president, confirmed by Senate for four-year terms. Currently 93 attorneys across US, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and NMI. Supervise up to 350 assistant attorneys and 350 support personnel