Supreme Court of the Philippines facts for kids
The Supreme Court of the Philippines (Filipino: Kataas-taasang Hukuman ng Pilipinas; often called Korte Suprema) is the highest court in the Philippines. Think of it as the most important judge in the country!
This court is led by a special judge called the Chief Justice. There are 15 judges in total, including the Chief Justice. Their main job is to make sure that all laws follow the Constitution, which is like the rulebook for the whole country. The Supreme Court also helps manage all the other courts and their staff across the Philippines.
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What Does the Supreme Court Do?
The Supreme Court has a very important job: it makes sure that justice is served fairly for everyone in the Philippines.
Making Sure Laws Are Fair
One of the court's biggest roles is to check if new laws or government actions follow the Constitution. If a law goes against the Constitution, the Supreme Court can say it's not valid. This helps protect the rights of all Filipinos.
Settling Big Disputes
Sometimes, there are very important disagreements that lower courts can't solve. These big cases might involve different parts of the government, or even important questions about human rights. The Supreme Court is the final place where these kinds of cases are decided. Once they make a decision, it's final and everyone must follow it.
Guiding Other Courts
The Supreme Court also sets rules and guidelines for all the other courts in the Philippines. This helps make sure that all courts follow the same fair procedures and rules when they hear cases. It's like they are the head teachers for all the other judges!
Who Works at the Supreme Court?
The Supreme Court is made up of special people called Justices.
The Chief Justice
The Chief Justice is the leader of the Supreme Court. This person is like the captain of the team. They guide the discussions and make sure the court runs smoothly.
The Associate Justices
Besides the Chief Justice, there are 14 other judges called Associate Justices. All 15 Justices work together to hear cases and make decisions. They listen to arguments, discuss the laws, and then vote on how to decide each case. It's a big responsibility because their decisions affect many people.
Where is the Supreme Court?
The main building of the Supreme Court is in Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. It's a grand building where many important decisions are made. They also have a summer session hall in Baguio City.
Images for kids
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José Abad Santos, the fifth Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
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The en banc session hall of the Supreme Court.
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Supreme Court Building, Baguio City
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The facade of the Supreme Court Building at Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila.
See also
In Spanish: Corte Suprema de Filipinas para niños
