Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has died, and the “Notorious RBG” is set to be replaced by the “glorious ACB,” jurist Amy Coney Barrett.

Barrett’s nomination will, no doubt, send many into hysterics and the affair will be enveloped in dirty tricks, smear campaigns, and intrigue.

But before we crank out the popcorn, it’s important to take a step back and examine the true nature of the Supreme Court. What does this institution—a priestly order of conformist yet immensely powerful midwits—tell us about the nature of the American government and who exactly is in control.