Through a series of landmark court cases -- chronicled in this book with an explanation of their lasting impact -- the judiciary has shaped the laws of the nation. Biographical sketches of important Supreme Court Justices and information about the powers of the judiciary are also presented. The framers of the Constitution had consummate legal minds. Their desire for a government that would represent the needs of the many as well as the needs of a few led to the creation of a balanced government, which no other nation had formalized at that time. The Judicial Branch of the Federal Government is one title of this thought-provoking series that provides an exciting look into the three branches of the world's leading democratic government. Primary source documents and interpretations introduce readers to leaders, ideas, and legal principles at work. Readers will learn about presidential interplay, from George Washington to Barack Obama. Watershed Supreme Court cases such as Dred Scott v. Sanford will remain in the reader's mind long after the book is returned to the shelf. - Publisher.