The Supreme Court of the United States

The highest tribunal in the nation, the Supreme Court is charged with the power of "judicial review": deciding whether actions of Congress, the president, the states, and lower courts (in other words, of all branches of government and government officials), are in accordance with the Constitution, and applying the Constitution's enduring principles to novel situations and a changing country. Arguably the most powerful people in the nation, the Court's chief justice and eight associate justices hear only about 100 of the most vital of the 10,000 or so petitions filed with the Court each year. The Court's rulings are final, reversible only by an Act of Congress.

Hard to believe, but the Supreme Court -- in existence since 1789 -- did not have its own building until 1935. The justices met in New York, Philadelphia, and assorted nooks of the Capitol until they finally got their own place. Architect Cass Gilbert, best known for his skyscrapers, like New York's 761-foot-high Woolworth building, designed the stately Corinthian marble palace that houses the Court today.

You'll have plenty of time to admire the exterior of this magnificent structure if you're in town when the Court is in session and decide to try to see a case being argued because -- yup, you guessed it -- you have to wait in line (sometimes for hours) on the front plaza of the building. But do try! Only in Washington does a wait in line grant one the privilege of watching and listening to the country's nine foremost legal experts nimbly and intensely dissect the merits of both sides of an argument, the outcome of which could profoundly affect the nation.

Starting the first Monday in October and continuing through late April, the Court "sits" for 2 weeks out of every month to hear two to four arguments each day, Monday through Wednesday, from 10am to noon and from 1 to 2 or 3pm. You can find out the specific dates and names of arguments in advance by calling the Supreme Court (tel. 202/479-3211) or by going to the website, www.supremecourtus.gov, where the argument calendar and the "Merits Briefs" (case descriptions) are posted.

Plan on arriving at the Supreme Court at least 90 minutes in advance of a scheduled argument during the fall and winter, and as early as 3 hours ahead in March and April, when schools are often on spring break and students lengthen the line. (Dress warmly; the stone plaza is exposed and can be witheringly cold.) Controversial cases also attract crowds; if you're not sure whether a particular case has created a stir, call the Court information line to reach someone who can tell you. The Court allots only about 150 first-come, first-served seats to the general public, but that number fluctuates from case to case, depending on the number of seats that have been reserved by the lawyers arguing the case and by the press. The Court police officers direct you into one line initially; when the doors finally open, you form a second line if you want to attend only 3 to 5 minutes of the argument. As of May 2010, for security reasons, visitors now enter the Supreme Court Building at plaza level, through either the northwest or southwest doors flanking the central marble staircase; in the past, visitors climbed those massive stone steps to venture through the opened, 6.5-ton bronze doors securing the Court's west entrance. You'll still have a chance to look at the doors, though, since visitors are allowed to exit the building through that central portal.

Meanwhile, the justices are always at work on their opinions following Court arguments, and release these completed opinions in the courtroom throughout the argument term, October through April, and into May and June. If you attend an oral argument, you may find yourself present as well for the release of a Supreme Court opinion, since the justices precede the hearing of new oral arguments with the announcement of their opinions on previously heard arguments, if any opinions are ready. What this means is, if you're visiting the Court on a Monday in May or June, you won't be able to attend an argument, but you might still see the justices in action, delivering an opinion, during a 10am, 15-minute session in the courtroom. To attend one of these sessions, you must wait in line on the plaza, following the same procedure outlined above.

Leave your cameras, recording devices, and notebooks at your hotel; they're not allowed in the courtroom. Note: Do bring quarters. Security procedures require you to leave all your belongings, including outerwear, purses, books, sunglasses, and so on, in a cloak room where there are coin-operated lockers that accept only quarters.

Once inside, pay close attention to the many rituals. At 10am, the marshal announces the entrance of the justices, and all present rise and remain standing while the justices take their seats (in high-backed, cushioned swivel chairs, by the way) following the chant: "The Honorable, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States. Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! All persons having business before the Honorable, the Supreme Court of the United States, are admonished to draw near and give their attention, for the Court is now sitting. God save the United States and this Honorable Court!" Unseen by the gallery is the "conference handshake"; following a 19th-century tradition symbolizing a "harmony of aims if not views," each justice shakes hands with each of the other eight when they assemble to go to the bench. The Court has a record of prior proceedings and relevant briefs, so each side is allowed only a 30-minute argument.

Not interested or able to attend an argument or opinion delivery? No worries. At times when the Court is finished with arguments for the day, and on days when the Court is not in session at all, docents lead 30-minute public tours of the courtroom that introduce visitors of all ages to the Court's judicial functions, the building's history, and the architecture of the courtroom. Tours take place every hour on the half-hour, beginning at 9:30am on days when the Court is not sitting and at a later time on Court days. You can also tour the building on your own (first, stop by the ground-floor Information Desk to pick up a helpful flyer), view exhibits, and watch a film on the workings of the Court.

A gift shop and a public cafeteria are open to the public.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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