Final answer:
The U.S. Supreme Court is sometimes called the court of last resort because it is the final stop for cases, having the ultimate authority to decide on appeals and resolve legal issues, including the constitutionality of laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
Because the U.S. Supreme Court is the final stop for cases in the United States, it is sometimes called the court of last resort. The Supreme Court has the power to decide the remedy and resolution of the case, and in all cases, it is the final court of appeal.
This means that the Supreme Court hears cases involving federal law and is the nation's final court of appeal. Additionally, the Supreme Court has the authority to declare laws and actions by the executive branch unconstitutional.
Each state has its own court system, usually culminating in a state Supreme Court; however, the U.S. Supreme Court has jurisdiction over these when there is a federal question or constitutional issue involved.
Most cases come to the Supreme Court on appeal from lower courts, and they are selected based on a writ of certiorari. This process involves a request for judicial review and an order for the lower court to send its records to the Supreme Court. Though the Court receives tens of thousands of cases for consideration annually, fewer than one hundred are typically selected for argument.
The structure of the Supreme Court includes nine justices, a unique set of rules for choosing cases, and specific procedures for hearing them. The Court's decisions are binding across the nation, establish precedent, and play a pivotal role in the interpretation of laws that all lower courts must follow.