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Understanding the Federal Court System in the United States

Learn about the origins and structure of the federal court system in the United States, including the levels of federal courts and their jurisdictions. Explore the role of the United States Supreme Court, Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and specialized federal courts. Gain insight into the jurisdiction of federal courts and the types of cases they hear.

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Understanding the Federal Court System in the United States

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  1. GOALS LESSON 4-2 Federal Court System Identify the source of power of the federal courts Name the various levels of federal courts and describe their jurisdictions

  2. ORIGINS OF OUR FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM • Federal courts received their power from the Constitution. • Article III - The Constitution granted Congress the power to establish inferior courts, as needed, to the U.S. Supreme Court. • also confers the power to judge certain criminal and civil matters in federal courts

  3. United States Supreme Court 13 United States Courts of Appeals (12 Circuit Courts) (1 Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit) State Supreme Courts United States District Courts Specialized Federal Courts Many Federal Agencies FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM

  4. JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS • 3 Levels of Federal courts have general jurisdiction – can hear almost any kind of case • Federal District Courts • Federal Courts of Appeals • U.S. Supreme Court • Special jurisdiction – hears only one specific type of case

  5. JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS • Federal District Courts • Lowest level of federal court with general jurisdiction • Trial court of the federal system • Original jurisdictions over: • Federal questions that arise under the Constitution • Lawsuits between cities of different states, between a U.S. citizen and a foreign nation, or between a U.S. citizen and a citizen of a foreign nation ($75,000 + )

  6. FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS • Appellate jurisdiction over: • District courts • Federal administrative agencies • No appellate court, not even the USSC, can change the factual determinations of a jury

  7. FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEALS (cont’d) • 13 Federal courts of appeal • 12 are circuit courts – responsible for an assigned geographic area • 13th is dedicated to the “federal circuit” • Handles patent cases appealed out of the district court • Handles appeals from federal courts with special jurisdiction

  8. U.S. SUPREME COURT • Both original and appellate jurisdiction • Original jurisdiction handles: • Cases affecting ambassadors • Public ministers and consuls • Most important is it’s exercise of appellate jurisdiction • Cases on appeals from the U.S. Court of Appeals • Highest courts of the various states.

  9. U.S. SUPREME COURT (cont’d) • Writ of certiorari – compels the state court to turn over the record of the case to the Supreme Court for review • Jurisdiction over state supreme court cases is limited • Federal question must arise based on a federal law or on the U.S. Constitution • Decisions made by the USSC are final and can only be overturned by the USSC or by an amendment to the Constitution

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