01 最高法院如何做决定 How the Supreme Court Makes Decisions

Here is a question: who is the most powerful person in the United States?

No, the answer is not the president.

The answer is not even one person.

Some observers would argue the most powerful people are the nine judges – called justices – who sit on the Supreme Court.

Their decisions affect nearly every part of Americans' lives.

Here is lawyer Michael Trachtman.

He wrote a book about how important the Supreme Court is.

"The Supreme Court defines the distinctions between church and state.

The Supreme Court decides how you're treated and what happens to you and what your rights are should you be charged with a crime.

The Supreme Court defines your rights if, for example, you are a racial or religious or ethnic minority and you feel as though you are being discriminated against, the Supreme Court defines how your life will be.