What Article in the Constitution states the limits of the US Supreme Court?

Answer 1

Article III, section 2, enumerates the specific types of cases over which the US Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (acts as a trial court), rather than appellate jurisdiction (reviews decisions in lower court cases). While Section 2 has been interpreted to limit the Court's original jurisdiction, as does the Eleventh Amendment, it should not be broadly defined as "stating the limits of the US Supreme Court."

The Supreme Court has certain fundamental powers, such as the right of judicial review (over challenged legislation), that are implied by its status as head of the Judicial branch of government, but not explicitly stated within the Constitution.

Articles I and II enumerate the powers of Congress and the President, respectively. Whatever powers are granted to the Legislative and Executive branches are not extended to the Judicial branch, so it is reasonable to infer that the first two Articles place more limits on the Supreme Court than anything in Article III.

Article III, Section 2 (Original Jurisdiction)

"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;--to all cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and citizens of another state [later revoked by the 11th Amendment];--between citizens of different states;--between citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or subjects."

Amendment Eleven revoked the right of the Supreme Court to hear cases "between a state and citizens of another state," due to the Court's decision in Chisholm v. Georgia, (1793). In Chisholm, the Court decided the states lacked sovereign immunity from being sued for war debts consequent to the Revolutionary War. Congress and the States were concerned that these suits would bankrupt the states, and quickly passed the Eleventh Amendment:

Amendment XI

"The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by citizens of another state, or by citizens or subjects of any foreign state"

Answer 2

Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution clearly states... "In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make."

Thus, the Supreme Court may be regulated by the Congress, and the Congress can except rulings from Supreme Court jurisdiction [strip appellate jurisdiction]. This was used most recently during the Bush administration when Congress stripped the Supreme Court of its appellate jurisdiction over cases involving Guantanamo detainees, and substituted the US District Court for the District of Columbia the final court of appeals. This technique has been used almost three dozen times in American history.

The Constitution is a contract between the people and the government. As such it is not, nor should be, easily changeable.

Answer

The Supreme Court cannot abridge the power of the other branches of the federal government, nor can it create legislation. Although the Constitution doesn't specifically list restrictions on the Court, it is understood by implication that powers reserved for the President, Congress, or the states are not given to the judiciary.

In terms of jurisdiction, Article III specifies what types of cases fall within the scope of the Court's original jurisdiction, and which within the Court's appellate jurisdiction. Anything not specifically mentioned or implied lies outside the scope of the Supreme Court's power.

Answer 3

Article 2