Final answer:
The Supreme Court typically chooses to hear cases involving constitutional rights, conflicts between states, cases where the U.S. government has an interest, differing appellate court interpretations, and disputes between the President and Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Supreme Court acts principally as an appellate court, and most cases heard by the Court come through appeal. It has appellate jurisdiction in all cases barring a few exceptions where it holds original jurisdiction, such as those involving ambassadors or when a state is a party. The cases the Supreme Court typically chooses to hear on appeal are those that:
- Are areas where a particular justice is interested and can persuade three other justices to grant a writ of certiorari.
- Involve conflicts between or among two or more states.
- Involve significant constitutional rights.
- Have the U.S. Government as a party or involve a strong interest from the government.
- Create differing legal interpretations across multiple Circuit Courts of Appeal, reflecting a need for uniformity in federal law.
- Involve disputes between the President and Congress, highlighting potential separation of power concerns.
Cases related to State Constitutions and those involving large monetary disputes typically do not fall under the Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction unless there is a substantial federal question or constitutional issue involved.