The Supreme Court is part of the judicial branch of the United States government. The judicial branch is responsible for interpreting the meaning of laws, applying them to real situations, and determining whether a law violates the Constitution. The Constitution of the United States establishes the federal judiciary, and Article III, Section I states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish". Congress has the power to decide how to organize the Supreme Court, and it has altered the number of seats on the Court over the years. Currently, the Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices. The Justices are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, and they typically hold office for life. The Supreme Court is the highest tribunal in the nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States.