In another example, whenever a constitutional amendment is passed - in a two-thirds vote by both Houses of Congress - it is not submitted to the president. It does have to be sent to all 50 states to be ratified by their legislatures or conventions, as Congress shall determine (Art. V, United States Constitution).
Article III of the Constitution addresses treason, a current 'hot topic.' What is treason? It is defined as "levying war against the United States or in adhering to their enemies, giving the latter aid comfort. No person can be convicted of treason except upon the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act or on confession in open court" (Art III, sec.3).
In the long history of the Constitution, only one amendment has been repealed - a remarkable, and admirable feat. Especially when the history of other constitutions, namely state documents, is examined. That one amendment was the Eighteenth, prohibiting alcohol. I wonder what they were thinking when that one sailed through Congress. It was, of course, eventually decommissioned with passage of the twenty-first amendment. The original amendment stays in the constitution - perhaps as a reminder of things not to do, or to look before you leap, or well, you get the picture.
Now, a look at the current justices, court traditions, procedures and just interesting little trinkets.
The 2001-02 term Court sits the following Brethren: Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist, appointed by Dick Nixon, and nominated for chief justice by Ron Reagan. Associate Justice John Paul Stevens, appointed by Jerry Ford. Associate Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, a Reagan appointee, as are Associate Justices Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy.
Associate Justices David Souter and Clarence Thomas were nominated by George Bush; and Associate Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen G. Breyer were Bill Clinton's selections.
The Supreme Court's term begins the first Monday in October and goes until the first Monday in October of the next year. Thousands of petitions are filed with the Court in a term, as are other applications of varying kinds, which can be acted upon by a single justice. Each justice is responsible for a certain circuit, and when an application is filed with the Court, the responsible justice acts. For example, Justice Scalia resides over the Fifth Circuit (a jurisdiction including the state of Texas).
