From CNN.com: The U.S. Supreme Court: How it works

http://www.cnn.com/2012/03/25/politics/scotus-health-care-explainer/index.html

The U.S. Supreme Court: How it works

By Bill Mears, CNN Supreme Court Producer

updated 7:18 AM EDT, Mon March 26, 2012

"Washington (CNN) -- Few Americans have any real idea how the Supreme Court operates, since cameras are barred, and the case arguments and opinions are often dry and confusing for nonlawyers.

That's too bad because the high court's impact on Americans is incalculable. When disputes arise, the nine justices serve as the final word for a nation built on the rule of law. They interpret the Constitution and all that it brings with it: how we conduct ourselves in society, boundaries for individuals and the government, questions literally of life and death."