Supreme Court Video Reflection

What I Learned About the U.S. Supreme Court:

Before watching this video, I understood that the Supreme Court was the highest court in the United States. However, I learned several details about its history and daily operations that I had never considered before.

One of the most interesting ideas was that the public does not have a direct way to influence Supreme Court decisions through the ballot box. Because of that, the confirmation process for justices is especially important. I also found it fascinating that one justice compared being appointed to the Supreme Court to being struck by lightning.

Another justice explained that it can take years before a new member truly feels comfortable doing the job. One quote that stood out to me was the idea that you really begin doing the work properly only after you forget that you are there.

The historical background of the Court was also eye-opening. I learned that the federal government moved to Washington in 1801 and that John Marshall had recently become Chief Justice. Under his leadership, the Supreme Court established what was described as its greatest judicial power: the ability to strike down an act of Congress as unconstitutional through the landmark case Marbury v. Madison.

That decision helped build the Court’s reputation and established it as a respected co-equal branch of government. It also showed how much influence the Court could have on the development of the nation.

The video also discussed one of the Court’s most controversial moments. The decision involving slavery and congressional authority weakened the Court’s reputation for years and is remembered as a major mistake in its history. Later, the Fourteenth Amendment expanded constitutional protections by preventing states from denying due process or equal protection of the law to citizens.

What surprised me most was the sheer volume of work handled by the Court. I did not realize that it receives around 100 new cases each week, totaling about 7,000 cases per year. Even more impressive is that the justices review petitions from all types of people and decide which cases deserve the Court’s attention.

Overall, the video changed the way I think about the Supreme Court. Instead of seeing it only as a court that decides major cases, I now see it as an institution shaped by history, constitutional interpretation, and enormous responsibility. Its decisions can influence the nation for generations, which makes its role both powerful and challenging.

AI Disclosure: AI was not used in the research and information for this blog post. All information came from notes that I took while watching a video titled "Supreme Court of the United States." I then prompted Microsoft Copilot Pro to help me shape my notes into a blog post of between 300 and 350 words written in a smooth, professional style. I then added links to online sources that the reader could pursue for more information. Finally, I added appropriate images and captions to help break up the type and give the post a more professional look.

My Top 5 News Sources

Instagram

I love to find new information on Instagram; it is probably my strongest source of news and updates. Since this is a platform I scroll on every day, it is very easy for me to be exposed to updates on almost any topic. Whether it be accounts I follow, mutual friends' interests, or my feed that has been tailored to my interests, I am constantly learning new things on Instagram. This is also a good way to make the information interactive, giving audiences a way to directly engage with and reshare what they see with their own followers.

TikTok

The easiest place for me to hear about what is going on in today's world is through TikTok. Not only do I see relevant news, but I get to see updates that my algorithm has determined would be interesting to me. Since TikTok is an app that I spend a decent amount of time on anyway, it is easy for me to learn new things that I might not have heard about otherwise. It presents the information in a quick & engaging way, so I can easily become informed and invested in the topic.

Google

Whenever I have to do my own research on something, Google is my first choice. If I hear about something from a friend or even on social media, I quickly turn to Google to find more information or confirmation on what I heard. This helps me become more well-rounded on my sources of information, because while social media is very practical, it's not always the most reliable. By searching on Google for more scholarly sources, I can feel more confident and knowledgeable on any given topic.

Podcasts

Spotify-Podcast Platform

Listening to podcasts is one of my favorite ways to pass time, and it doubles as a source of direct access to whatever is relevant in the host's life and interests. Most of my favorite podcasts have explicitly stated that they only post advertisements from companies they trust and value. This offers credibility as well as common interest through the topic of that podcast. I have heard about several makeup & skincare products, universities, online counseling services, and many more from podcast advertisements in the past month alone.

YouTube

While YouTube isn't a platform I use as often as I used to, it is a great way to search for a more thorough description or explanation of any given topic. You can find music videos, summaries, animations, and endless options of creative interpretations of new information. It is a great way to find different breakdowns and perspectives of one topic, while also filtering what you determine to be interesting or relevant.