Supreme Court Video Reflection

Inside the courtroom of the United States Supreme Court

One of the biggest takeaways from this video for me was realizing just how much power the Supreme Court holds in the American system of government. The Court is responsible for interpreting a Constitution that is more than 200 years old, while also safeguarding liberty, preserving the Union, and upholding the rule of law.

Before watching this documentary, I knew the Supreme Court was important, but I did not fully understand the extent of its influence. The nine justices have the authority to tell the President, Congress, and the states what they may or may not do, and they cannot avoid controversy when making those decisions.

One of the biggest takeaways from this video for me was realizing just how much power the Supreme Court holds in the American system of government. The Court is responsible for interpreting a Constitution that is more than 200 years old, while also safeguarding liberty, preserving the Union, and upholding the rule of law.

Before watching this documentary, I knew the Supreme Court was important, but I did not fully understand the extent of its influence. The nine justices have the authority to tell the President, Congress, and the states what they may or may not do, and they cannot avoid controversy when making those decisions.

One fact that surprised me was that in all of American history there have been just over one hundred Supreme Court justices, with an average service time of about sixteen years. Some have served for much longer, which highlights how lasting their impact can be.

U.S. Supreme Court, Washington D.C.

I also learned more about the Court's history. When the federal government moved to Washington in 1801, the Supreme Court was given temporary quarters in the unfinished Capitol building. The documentary also emphasized the role of Chief Justice John Marshall and the Court's power to strike down acts of Congress as unconstitutional.

The discussion of the Dred Scott case was especially memorable. The video described it as the Court's greatest self-inflicted wound because the ruling declared that Congress could not ban slavery and that Black people could never be citizens. It was striking to learn how later constitutional amendments abolished slavery, defined citizenship, and granted voting rights, with many people viewing the Fourteenth Amendment as a second Bill of Rights.

The documentary also gave me a better understanding of how the Court operates day to day. The justices review petitions for certiorari, accept only a small number of cases each year, and meet regularly to decide which cases deserve review. Every petition receives individual consideration.

What I found most interesting was the process of writing opinions. Justices exchange revisions, debate legal reasoning, and sometimes spend months refining their decisions before the public ever sees them.

The video changed the way I think about the Supreme Court. Rather than seeing it as a distant institution, I now see it as a group of people who often disagree but share a commitment to the law and respect for one another's opinions.

My Top 5 Sources of Information

I believe that me and a lot of other teenagers nowadays get most of their information from TikTok. Though I usually use it at the end of my long days just to scroll, I am frequently stopping at some videos that are informational, political, entertaining, or breaking news that I would have to search up in order to find. TikTok makes information easier to understand due to people explaining topics through short videos and personal examples that keep the consumer engaged. TikTok has become one of the biggest platforms for people to be able to interact with others as well as providing information which is something I enjoy most about the app. 

When I am not totally occupied by TikTok and it's algorithm, I find myself looking at Instagram whether it's what my friends at home and family are up to, people from my old schools, or celebrities I like to keep up with. I do enjoy being able to go on Instagram and see what people I know are doing, especially if they are abroad in another country but also because a lot of news stations have started to create their own accounts in order to update those who watch them on TV. I just recently found out that one of my favorite actors had passed away when I was on Instagram. Though it's not a news app, it is able to connect and inform people on a daily. 

I talked to my family and friends everyday whether it's texting, calling or seeing them in person. Being able to get face to face information I think is the most important type of information because you aren't just looking on a screen hoping that it's either true or untrue. Coming from a direct source who might already know and research on the topic being told is something that many online fear if they don't believe it's a fact. I call my mom every night before I go to bed in order to hear what she has to say and she almost always tells me something that I would have not known or would have to do a deep dive on the internet for. Being able to get information on and off a screen is significant due to not always relying on one type of information.

Now that I am in college, I have been using LinkedIn more than I ever have. I play all the mini puzzle games every morning before going to class. But what I also get out of it is information about careers, internships, and opportunities that are far outside any social media app listed above. From personal experience, I am able to see what past friends have been doing in their own time at college as well as employers for jobs that I am interested are up to. I am able to learn about different industries and connect with professionals that I may not learn about on a regular social media app as this is designed to young adults professional news about careers.

Lastly, I get constant and reoccurring notifications on my phone and apple watch that Apple News sends me. Though I am not an avid user of Apple News, I always take the time to read what the description says in case it is something that interests me or breaking news that has happened that I am not able to find anywhere else. This app gives current events in real time such a national news, sports, and other daily topics that have been going on for sometime. Some media apps are very biased but I have not personally experienced Apple News being biased on what news they post for the public. It is a very reliable app for world news and not just surrounding news.