Read or Re-Read the U. S. Constitution
I don’t know about you, but it has been decades since I did this. The more familiar we are with this document, the better we can respond in conversation. Don’t feel you have to read it all in one sitting. Maybe chunk it some. I know there are people who carry a copy of the constitution with them, and there are ways to download it to your phone. Here are a couple resources:
The Annenberg Guide to the United States Constitution - website also has guides to Supreme Court cases and much more. About this website: "Our founder, Leonore Annenberg, believed that engaged and well-informed citizens are vital to making our government work at the local, state and federal levels. However, civics knowledge surveys conducted by the Annenberg Public Policy Center show that Americans lack a basic understanding of the Constitution and how our system of governance works."
National Constitution Center - A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate
Constitution Course 101 - video and print resources
Supreme Court - Highest court in the US was established in Article III of the U.S. Constitution.
Website for the court where you can see their schedule. Current Supreme Court Justices:
Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr.
Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Associate Justice Clarence Thomas
Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito, Jr.
Associate Justice Elena Kagan
Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett
Associate Justice Neil M. Gorsuch
Associate Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh
Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.
Article III of the U.S. Constitution authorized Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts.
Courts of Appeals - The 13 appellate courts or courts of appeals, are below the Supreme Court. Their role is to dtermine if the law was applied correctly in trial courts. Pennsylvania is in the 3rd circuit. Court of appeals judges, also known as circuit judges, usually are in a panel of 3 judges. There are over 20 judges in the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
District Courts – The 94 district or trial courts are the primary trial courts of the federal court system. resolve disputes by determining the facts in a situation and applying the law to those facts. In the Third Circuit there are 6 district courts: Delaware, New Jersey, PA Eastern, PA Middle, PA Western and the Virgin Islands. The U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania has 4 locations: Scranton, Harrisburg, Williamsport, and Wilkes-Barre.
Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania - Most civil and criminal cases are filed in state courts. PA system includes:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (7 justices serving 10 year terms) This is the highest court of the commonwealth and years direct appeals from lower courts' decisions.
PA Superior Court (15 judges serving 10 year terms) Statewide intermediate appellate court handling appeals in criminal and civil cases from the Courts of Common Pleas.
PA Commonwealth Court (9 judges elected to 10 year terms) Another statewide intermediate appellate court focused on civil actions brought by and against the Commonwealth, administrative law, such as workers' compensation, and appeals from state agency decisions.
PA Courts of Common Pleas - There are 60 judicial districts and judges are elected for 10 year terms. These are the general trial courts of the commonwealth with actions heard by juries and some heard by judges; Centre County Court of Common Pleas has 4 judges.
This website created to provide citizens resources to help tend to our democracy and keep it healthy. Many of the events & organizations will be for Centre County, PA, but the "Get Involved" and the "Time to Learn" sections are helpful everywhere.
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© Dotty Delafield, 2025.