Final answer:
The Supreme Court's docket primarily consists of cases that reach it on appeal, focusing on substantial constitutional questions or important legal disputes. Most cases are selected through the certiorari process, and the Court hears less than 2 percent of petitions received.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major part of the Supreme Court's load is made up of cases that are typically selected from the thousands of petitions it receives each term. These cases often involve significant constitutional issues or legal questions that have led to different interpretations in lower courts. The types of cases that make up the bulk of the Supreme Court's docket are primarily those that come to it on appeal, either from federal circuit courts (U.S. courts of appeals) or from state supreme courts. The Supreme Court's jurisdiction includes cases involving ambassadors, foreign officials, or states as parties, but it mainly acts as a court of last resort that exercises discretion through the writ of certiorari process to select which cases it will hear.
Although the state court systems handle the majority of cases in the U.S., dealing with civil and criminal matters, the federal courts will hear cases that involve specific federal issues such as disputes involving foreign governments, controversies spanning multiple states, or cases in which the United States is a party. Despite the public attention, the Supreme Court hears less than 2 percent of the petitions it receives, indicating a very selective process that focuses on the most consequential legal challenges, which often have wider implications for society.