Thursday, December 13, 2012

POST #4

THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND

Write a blog post about how the Supreme Court works and how the building its self displays and represents these important principles and functions of American Government.
Show examples of law and justice within the architecture and art found in the Supreme Court Building. Share your favorite three and why you chose them.

The supreme court is also known as the supreme law of the land.  The fundamental principles of american government such as Equality Under the Law, Establishment of Justice, Separation of Powers, and Checks and Balances are all embodied in the Supreme Court building and used on cases put forward here.  The supreme court judges can make decision during cases to justify whether something is constitutional or unconstitutional, through the judicial system in judicial review.


The Authority of Law is a statue in front of the supreme court building that is also called the Guardian or Executor of the Law. I chose This statue as one of my favorite because he sits patiently and concentrated, holding a tablet in his hands with a sword behind it.  The tablet is engraved LEX which is Latin for the word law, and the sword represents the enforcement through the law. I like this figure because it shows that the Supreme Law of the Land will enforce the laws and make fair judgement in cases brought to their attention.
The Contemplation of Justice is another statue that sits in front of the Supreme Court. This statue is placed on the left side of the main steps into the building. The Contemplation of Justice has her arm rested on a book of law and holding a small statue of justice in the other hand. I chose this figure because I like that she  is determining whether something is just or unjust according to the law. I really like this figure because it shows that not only men, but women can be powerful as well and make important decisions.

The Bronze Doors are the entrance to the supreme court building in Washington DC.  The doors have 8 different scenes that represent important events in Western tradition; they are arranged in chronological order starting from the bottom left panel, moving upwards, and then from the bottom right panel moving upwards and ending on the top right. Each panel on the doors are the Shield of Achilles, Praetor's Edit, Julian and Scholar, Justinian Code, Magna Carta, Westminister Statue, Coke and James I, and Marshall and Story. I like these doors because they are very interesting and is a cool way to enter into the supreme court building through.

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