Questions and Answers
What was the salary of the Chief Justice in 1789?
Who was the longest serving Supreme Court justice?
Which justice was impeached but not removed from office?
When does a Supreme Court term begin?
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Who appointed the most Supreme Court justices?
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What tradition did Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller start?
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Which justice had the shortest tenure in the Supreme Court?
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Which two justices have been featured on U.S. currency?
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How are the Supreme Court's term sittings and recesses structured?
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What was the associate justices' salary in 2023?
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Study Notes
U.S. Constitution Overview
- Contains 4,440 words; oldest and shortest written constitution of any major government.
- Notable spelling error: “Pensylvania” above signers' names.
- Thomas Jefferson and John Adams did not sign; both were overseas during the Constitutional Convention.
- Constitution "penned" by Jacob Shallus for $30 in 1787 ($1,027 today).
- Displayed since 1952 in National Archives, behind glass with controlled conditions to preserve quality.
Voting Rights and Representation
- No explicit voting rights in the Constitution; initially, only male property owners could vote.
- African Americans considered non-citizens, women excluded from voting until later amendments.
- Native Americans granted the right to vote in 1924.
Constitutional Convention Highlights
- James Madison, known as the "father of the Constitution," attended every meeting and documented discussions.
- 39 out of 42 delegates signed the Constitution; 60 ballots were held to decide on the Electoral College system.
- Proposed address for the president was "His Highness the President of the United States of America and Protector of their Liberties."
Ratification Process
- Vermont ratified the Constitution on January 10, 1791, before it became a state.
- Requires 2/3 support from both House and Senate and ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures to amend.
Significance and Legacy
- Benjamin Franklin remarked on the new government, calling it "a republic, madam. If you can keep it."
- The phrase "democracy" does not appear in the Constitution; debates on military size revealed tension and wit among the founders.
- Over 10,000 amendments proposed; only 27 have been ratified.
Supreme Court Formation and Evolution
- Court convened for the first time in 1790; justices wore wigs, a tradition that faded quickly.
- In its first term, the Supreme Court had no docket and made no decisions.
- Chief Justice’s salary in 1789 was $4,000; in 2023, it is $298,000.
Notable Justices and Traditions
- Longest-serving justice: William O. Douglas (36 years, 6 months); John Rutledge had the briefest tenure (4 months).
- Only Samuel Chase was impeached but acquitted.
- Supreme Court term begins first Monday in October; organized into sittings for hearings and recesses for writing opinions.
U.S. Currency Representation
- Salmon P. Chase appears on the $10,000 bill, John Marshall on the $500 bill; Marshall was replaced by William McKinley until bill discontinuation in 1969.
Amendment Process Details
- Article V outlines amendment proposal methods: 2/3 vote in Congress or a national convention requested by 2/3 of state legislatures (never used).
- Ratification by 3/4 of state legislatures or state conventions; the 21st Amendment was ratified through conventions.
- Ratification process time limit of 7 years first applied to the 18th Amendment.
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Description
Test your knowledge on fascinating facts about the U.S. Constitution! This quiz covers interesting details, historical context, and notable figures associated with the Constitution. Perfect for those who want to better understand this foundational document of American government.
