The Judiciary Act was a foundational piece of legislation passed by the United States Congress that established the framework for the federal court system, including the Supreme Court. The act was largely influenced by the need to create a coherent judiciary that could interpret laws uniformly across the various states and ensure justice under the new Constitution ratified earlier that year. It defined the structure of the federal judiciary, including the number of justices on the Supreme Court, which was set at six. This decision was significant as it initiated the establishment of a judicial system that was independent and able to balance the powers of the legislative and executive branches. The act also created the office of the Attorney General, tasked with overseeing legal affairs for the federal government and representing it in court. This role has evolved over the years but originated from this historic legislation, marking the beginning of organized federal legal authority. The act also provided for the creation of lower federal courts, which would be essential in securing the rule of law throughout the young nation.