Understanding the U.S. Federal Court System

1. The Federal Court System 7th Grade Civics Miss Smith *pgs. 185-188

2. U.S. District Courts • The Constitution states “the ________ power of the U.S. shall be vested in one _______ Court, and in such _________ [lower] courts as the ________ may from time to time… establish.” • Which Article in the Constitution can you find this?

3. U.S. District Courts • There are ___ levels of _______ courts • Each level has jurisdiction (extent of the court’s ________ to hear and ______ a case brought before it) • ___ types of jurisdiction: _______ and appellate

4. U.S. Federal Districts • District courts- ______ level of federal courts in the ____ • Ex: _____ courts, courts of original jurisdiction (authority to be the _____ courts in which cases are _____)

5. U.S. Federal Districts • The only _______ court where jury trials are held • Cannot hear _______ from other courts • These are the “_____” federal courts with at least _ in each state and D.C. • __ total

6. U.S. District Judges • Judges don’t make ____. That job goes to who? • Judges apply the ________ law to the cases before them • The ______ of judges per court depend on the ________ of the court • Conduct _____ and _______ trials with or without ______ • If no jury, the judge decides who ____/_____ and sets ___________

7. U.S. District Judges • Federal judges (except those in U.S. ____________) are appointed for ____ • The __________ chooses them, ______ approves • Can be impeached by ________ • Neither Congress nor the pres. can lower a judge’s ______ • All of this ensures judges aren’t ________ for their _________ in cases

8. U.S. Courts of Appeals • After a court case is lost, the losing party can ______ to the ______ level of the federal court system, or the court of appeals (C.o.A.) • These courts have appellate jurisdiction (power to ______ decisions made by ______ courts) • There are ___ judicial circuits and each circuit has it’s own C.o.A. • Each C.o.A. has btwn __-___ judges • The judge who has served the _______ and is under ___ yrs old is the _____ judge

9. U.S. Courts of Appeals • C.o.A.s do not hold ______ • A panel of at least ___ judges make a ________ on the case • Judges examine ______ and hear from the ________ • Judges only decide whether or not the original trial was ____, NOT who is ______/________ • Judges reach their decision by ________ ____ • Either they send the case back to _____ or uphold the _______ ________

10. The U.S. Supreme Court • The _______ court of the land • Mainly an _______ court • Justices = _______ • The decisions of the justices cannot be _________ • Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in ___ types of cases: • Involving _________ of other countries • Between ______ • Involving a state and the _______ ____