Does the Constitution make the US Supreme Court the head of the Judicial branch?

Answer 1

No, the title Chief Justice of the United States is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. Article II, Section 2, Paragraph 2 simply states:

"[The President] shall have Power, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, to make Treaties, provided two thirds of the Senators present concur; and he shall nominate, and by and with the Advice and Consent of the Senate, shall appointAmbassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, Judges of the supreme Court, and all other Officers of the United States, whose Appointments are not herein otherwise provided for, and which shall be established by Law: but the Congress may by Law vest the Appointment of such inferior Officers, as they think proper, in the President alone, in the Courts of Law, or in the Heads of Departments."

The Constitution mandated Congress create a Supreme Court, but left details of the structure and specific function of the federal judiciary to Congress. The Judiciary Act of 1789 ("An Act to Establish the Courts of the United States") created a system of courts and established jurisdictions.

The Senate determined the Supreme Court would initially consist of six members - a Chief Justice and five Associate Justices. This was modeled after the State Supreme Court systems, many of which were established prior to adoption of the US Constitution.

Answer 2

The title of Article III makes clear the Judicial branch is one of the three independent branches of the US government. Article III, Section 1 establishes the Supreme Court as the court in which the judicial power of the United States is vested, the most powerful court in the United States. As such, it is head of the Judicial branch.

Article III

Section 1. 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. The judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behaviour, and shall, at stated times, receive for their services, a compensation, which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office.