Article VI: Supreme Court

Section 1. Nomination Process

a. The President must nominate Justices in the event that the Court's membership falls below three (3) members. The President may not nominate new Justices if the Court consists of seven (7) Justices. The number of seated Justices may not increase by more than three (3) in a single presidential term.
b. Formal submission of nominees to the Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs may take place at any time during the President's term.
c. The Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs shall begin hearings on Court nominees no less than seven (7) days after their nomination, and shall vote no less than twenty-one (21) days after their nominations.
d. No Supreme Court nominee may sit on the Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs while the committee considers her/his nomination.
e. The House shall open a vote on a Supreme Court nominee, no debate being needed, no less than seven (7) days after the Committee of the Judiciary and Government Affairs concludes its confirmation vote.
f. A Justice may take office upon being confirmed by the House and having his or her commission signed by the President.

Section 2. Powers and Duties

a. The Supreme Court shall have full interpretive authority over the rules of the House and the AGS Rules, upon receiving a Petition for Interpretation from any member of the House or the Executive Branch.
b. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to settle disputes between members, upon receiving a petition from any member of the House or Executive Branch.
c. The Supreme Court shall have the authority to nullify legislation that is found to be unconstitutional, upon receiving a petition for a writ of certiorari outlining the specific legal (Constitutional or statutory) grounds for the appeal of legislation or government action and hearing a case regarding the Constitutionality of said legislation.
d. The Supreme Court shall appoint a defendant in cases involving preexisting legislation or other acts of government.
e. The Supreme Court shall reach its verdicts in secret by majority vote. Verdicts shall be posted along with a breakdown of each Justice's vote. The Court shall issue a majority opinion explaining its verdict and may also issue a dissenting opinion.
f. The Supreme Court will only hear arguments on the merits of a case from the plaintiff and the defendant, unless properly filed in the form of an amicus curiae brief.
g. Justices of the Court may not be lobbied outside of official Court arguments, nor leak deliberations in private Chambers.

Section 3. Officers

a. A Chief Justice shall be nominated by the President with the advice and consent of the House.
b. The Chief Justice shall be responsible for supervising the operations of the Court.
c. The Chief Justice shall be responsible for choosing Justices to write and deliver opinions.
d. The Chief Justice may resign from the position, whereby assuming her/his position as an Associate Justice, or may resign from the Court altogether.
e. A Clerk of the Courts may be appointed by the Chief Justice to carry out administrative tasks under the Court's direction. Deputy Clerks of the Court may also be appointed.

Section 4. Impeachment

a. A Justice shall be subject to impeachment if a member believes the Justice has shown malicious or incompetent disregard for the rules or of fellow members, or has made a habit of tardiness and absenteeism.
b. A member shall formally petition the Committee on Rules and Ethics to investigate the matter to determine the exact charges, if any, to be brought against the Justice. The Committee on Rules and Ethics shall immediately consider any petition against a Justice.
c. The Committee on Rules and Ethics must vote no later than fourteen (14) days after receiving a petition against a Justice on whether or not to send charges to the full House for consideration, with a 2/3rds vote necessary for passage.
d. Upon receiving such charges, the Speaker shall immediately conduct a vote on whether or not to impeach the Justice. A 2/3rds vote is necessary for impeachment.
e. Impeachment of a Justice will take effect immediately upon passage by the House. No punishment other than removal from the Supreme Court may be passed as part of an impeachment vote, but further action may be taken through petition of the Committee on Rules and Ethics following impeachment.