110 likes | 358 Views
3-2 The Federal Court System. GOALS Identify the source of power of the federal courts Name the major federal courts and describe their jurisdictions and powers. ORIGIN OF THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM. Judiciary Acts established: U.S. Supreme Court 13 district courts Federal Courts of Appeal
E N D
3-2 The Federal Court System • GOALS • Identify the source of power of the federal courts • Name the major federal courts and describe their jurisdictions and powers Chapter 3
ORIGIN OF THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM • Judiciary Acts established: • U.S. Supreme Court • 13 district courts • Federal Courts of Appeal • Specialized courts Chapter 3
ORIGIN OF THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM • Federal Courts: • 94 federal judicial districts, all have a trial court & bankruptcy court • 12 regional circuits, each has a court of appeals • 13 Federal Courts of Appeal – located in Washington D.C. hears cases from the U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Court of Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Tax Court, and U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals Chapter 3
CHECKPOINT • Why was it left to the discretion of Congress to establish a Supreme Court and other inferior courts? Chapter 3
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS • Federal District Courts • Lowest federal level of general jurisdiction • Federal questions or constitutional cases, U.S. law, or treaties • Lawsuits between citizens of different states, U.S. citizen and foreign nation, or U.S. citizen and foreign national, must be over $75,000 • Determine facts • Make initial determinations of the law Chapter 3
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS, cont. • Federal Courts of Appeals • Jurisdiction over district courts, certain specialized federal courts, and many federal administrative agencies • 13 courts, 12 circuit (responsible for geographical area), one is dedicated to the ‘federal circuit’, (courts/boards with specialized jurisdiction, claims against the federal government, etc) Chapter 3
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS, cont. • United States Supreme Court, (USSC) • Original and appellate jurisdiction • Only accepts cases that it feels contain a constitutional issue sufficiently important • Writ of certiorari – compels lower court to turn over record of a case to the USSC for review • Only overturned by USSC or constitutional amendment • Jurisdiction over state supreme court cases is limited to those with a federal question • 9 justices Chapter 3
JURISDICTION OF THE FEDERAL COURTS, cont. • United States Supreme Court, (USSC) • sets precedent that all courts in U.S. must follow • can change laws, ie: segregation in schools • about 80 cases a year • have to show why a case should be heard, need four of nine judges to agree – only exception of majority rule • if it is accepted • parties will write briefs on how the case should be decided • public hearing each side gets 30 minutes • judges get to ask questions Chapter 3
FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM Chapter 3
CHECKPOINT • Name the three levels of federal courts and describe the jurisdiction of each. • US District Courts • Trial courts of the federal system with original jurisdiction • Appellate Courts • Intermediate courts, appellate jurisdiction • Supreme Court • Both appellate and original jurisdiction Chapter 3