Noah Sumpter, age 16, of Hattiesburg, Miss., for his question:
HOW MANY SUPREME COURT CHIEF JUSTICES HAVE WE HAD?
In the almost 200 years since the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court was sworn into office, only 15 men have served as the head of the nation's highest court.
The Supreme Court was established by Article 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which describes the jurisdiction of the Court as follows: "The judicial power shall extend to all cases in law and equity arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States and treaties made or which shall be made under their authority ..."
John Jay was the first chief justice. He came into office in 1789, the year that the Supreme Court was established. Jay held the office until 1795.
John Rutledge served as chief justice for two years from 1795, and he was followed into office in 1796 by Oliver Ellsworth. Ellsworth served until 1799.
Then came some long periods of service. John Marshall was chief justice from 1801 until 1835, Roger Brooke Taney from 1836 to 1864, Sallmon P. Chase from 1864 to 1873, Morrison Waite from 1874 until 1888 and Melville Fuller from 1888 until 1910.
Seven men round out the entire list: Edward White from 1910 to 1921, William Howard Taft from 1921 to 1930, Charles Evans Hughes from 1930 to 1941, Harlan Fiske Stone from 1941 to 1946, Frederick Moore Vinson from 1946 to 1953, Earl Warren from 1953 to 1969 and Warren Berger from 1969. Chief Justice Berger continues to hold the office today.
The Supreme Court consists of eight associate justices and the chief justice, all appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate. Members of the Court are appointed for life terms and can be removed only by resignation or impeachment.
Until 1981, all justices of the Supreme Court in its 191 year history had been men. This policy was finally changed when, after President Ronald Reagan nominated Judge Sandra'Dsy O'Connor as the first woman Supreme Court Justice on July 7, 1981, she was sworn in on Sept. 25.
The Court, which is in session from October to May or June, reaches decisions by majority vote, but any justice may write and issue a dissenting opinion. Enforcement of Court decisions is the responsibility of the executive department.
Since its establishment, the number of justices on the Supreme Court has varied from five to 10. The size of the Court, not specified by the Constitution, is determined by the U.S. Congress.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 provided for five associate justices and one chief justice. This number was reduced to five in 1801 but was later increased to seven in 1807, nine in 1837 and 10 in 1863. In 1869 the number was again restored to nine, including the chief justice. It has remained at this figure since that time.
Warren Berger became chief justice in 1969 after he had been appointed by President Richard Nixon. Although the Supreme Court under Chief Justice Berger has become far more conservative than the Warren Court before it, it is deeply divided between liberal and conservative attitudes on many issues.