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Often incorrectly called the “ Chief Justice of the Supreme Court,” the Chief Justice of the United States not only presides over the Supreme Court, he or she serves as the head of the judicial branch of the federal government. The other eight members of the Supreme Court are called “ Associate Justices of the Supreme Court.”
The Chief Justice serves as the head of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the chief administrative body of the United States federal courts. The Judicial Conference is empowered by the Rules Enabling Act to promulgate rules to ensure the smooth operation of the federal courts. The Chief Justice presides over the Court's public sessions and also presides over the Court's private conferences, where the justices decide what cases to hear and how to vote on the cases they have heard.
Just like the Associate Justices , the Chief Justice of the United States is nominated by the President of the United States and must be confirmed by a majority vote of the U.S. Senate. Also like the Associate Justices, the Chief Justice serves until retirement, death or impeachment . The Chief Justice is also paid more than the Associate Justices.
The duties of the Chief Justice of the United States are not elaborated in the Constitution; instead, they have been devised and clarified over the years by Congress and the federal judiciary. In addition to the duties of the Associate Justices, the Chief Justice enters the courtroom first and casts the first vote when the justices deliberate . However, the Chief Justice's vote carries no more influence than the votes of the Associate Justices. If the Chief Justice votes with the majority in a case decided by the Supreme Court, he or she may choose to write the Court's opinion, or to assign the task to one of the Associate Justices. The Chief Justice sits as the judge in impeachments of the President of the United States. Only two Chief Justices have ever served this role: Chief Justices, Salmon P. Chase presided over the Senate trial of President Andrew Johnson in 1868, and the late William H. Rehnquist presided over the trial of President William Clinton in 1999.The Chief Justice swears in the President of the United States at inaugurations . This is a purely traditional role. According to law, any federal or state judge, even a notary - public , is empowered to administer oaths of office. The Chief Justice writes an annual report to Congress about the state of the federal court system.
As of March 2016, there have been 17 Chief Justices throughout the history of the United States. One of the most influential Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States is John Marshall because court opinions helped lay the basis for United States constitutional law and many say made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches. He was also the longest-serving Chief Justice and the fourth longest-serving justice in U.S. Supreme Court history. Marshall dominated the Court for over three decades and played a significant role in the development of the American legal system. Most notably, he reinforced the principle that federal courts are obligated to exercise judicial review, by disregarding purported laws if they violate the constitution. Thus, Marshall cemented the position of the American judiciary as an independent and influential branch of government.
the Chief Justice 首席大法官
the Associate Justices （美国最高法院的）大法官
empower [ɪmˈpaʊə(r)] vt. 授权，允许
promulgate [ˈprɒmlgeɪt] vt. 公布，颁布
impeachment [ɪm'pi:tʃmənt] n. 弹劾，控告
elaborate [ɪˈlæbərət] vi.&vt. 详细叙述
devise [dɪˈvaɪz] vt. 设计，想出
deliberate [dɪˈlɪbərət] vi.&vt. 仔细考虑
Inauguration [ɪˌnɔ:ɡjə'reɪʃn] n. 就职典礼
notary-public [ˈnəʊtərɪ ˈpʌblɪk] n. 公证人，公证员
annual [ˈænjuəl] adj. 年度的，一年一次的；
n. 年刊
1. Besides the Chief Justice, there are eight Associate Justices in the Supreme Court.
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2. The Chief Justice of the United States can only presides over the Supreme Court.
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3. The duties of the Chief Justice of the United States are elaborated clearly in the Constitution. ( )
4. The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices shall preside together over the Senate during any impeachment trial of the President. ( )
5. The Chief Justice and the Associate Justices are all nominated and confirmed by the U. S. President. ( )
6. The Chief Justice serves longer than the Associate Justices and are also paid more than the Associate Justices. ( )
7. The Chief Justice's greatest power is to decide who writes the Court's majority opinion if, but only if, the Chief Justice has voted with the majority. ( )
8. The Chief Justice's vote carries more influence than the votes of the Associate Justices. ( )
9. John Marshall, the first Chief Justice in the history of the United States, helped lay the basis for United States constitutional law. ( )
10. John Marshall was the longest-serving Chief Justice and the fourth longest-
serving justice in U.S. Supreme Court history. ( )
1. The Chief Justice enters the courtroom first and casts the first vote when the justices deliberate. The Chief Justice's vote carries no more influence than the votes of the Associate Justices.
2. If the Chief Justice votes with the majority in a case decided by the Supreme Court, he or she may choose to write the Court's opinion, or to assign the task to one of the Associate Justices.
3. The Chief Justice sits as the judge in impeachments of the President of the United States.
4. The Chief Justice swears in the President of the United States at inaugurations. This is a purely traditional role.
5. The Chief Justice writes an annual report to Congress about the state of the federal court system.