The federal court system is established by Article III of the Constitution. The federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving the Constitution, federal law, disputes between states or citizens of different states, and disputes involving foreign governments. The lower federal courts include district courts and courts of appeals. District courts handle most cases and have original jurisdiction, while courts of appeals only hear appeals from lower courts. The highest court is the Supreme Court, which has the power of judicial review to determine the constitutionality of laws and final authority on interpreting the Constitution.

1. THETHE
JUDICIALJUDICIAL
BRANCHBRANCH
The Federal Court SystemThe Federal Court System
established in Article IIIestablished in Article III

3. The Federal Court system
is established in the
Constitution
TheThe jurisdictionjurisdiction,,
or authority toor authority to
hear and decidehear and decide
a case, is alsoa case, is also
establishedestablished
(III, 2, 1)(III, 2, 1)

4. The Federal
Courts have
jurisdiction over
the following areas
the Constitutionthe Constitution
federal lawsfederal laws
law of the high seaslaw of the high seas
disputes involving the U.S. Governmentdisputes involving the U.S. Government
disputes between states, or citizens of different statesdisputes between states, or citizens of different states
disputes involving foreign governmentsdisputes involving foreign governments
EVERYTHING ELSE GOESTO THE STATEEVERYTHING ELSE GOESTO THE STATE
AND LOCAL COURTSAND LOCAL COURTS

6. THE LOWER FEDERALTHE LOWER FEDERAL
COURTSCOURTS
District
Courts
Courts of
Appeals

7. District CourtsDistrict Courts
• federal courts where lawsuits are begun
• at least 1 per state
• district courts handle most of the Federal
Court System's work (90%)
• district courts have original jurisdiction:
the authority to hear cases the first time

9. Courts of AppealsCourts of Appeals
(Circuit courts)(Circuit courts)
• these courts only hear
cases that are appealed
from lower courts
• appellate jurisdiction

11. Additional courtsAdditional courts
Military courts
Territorial courts
US Tax Court
Claims courts

12. THE U.S. SUPREME COURTTHE U.S. SUPREME COURT
the
highest
court in
the
land

13. The Supreme Court
rarely has originaloriginal
jurisdictionjurisdiction - almost all of
the cases that come to
the Supreme Court are
from appeals

14. The JusticesThe Justices
9 Justices, including a Chief Justice
appointed by the President, they hold their terms
until they die, resign, or are impeached
very powerful, very prestigious

15. The Supreme Court has the power of
judicial reviewjudicial review
this allows the Court to
review any law and
decide if it is
unconstitutional
From Marbury v.
Madison, 1803
but only if the law comes
to the Court in a case

16. The Supreme
Court is the
final authorityfinal authority
on the
Constitution
and the laws of
the United
States.

17. How can a
Supreme Court
decision be
overturned?
A new decision
by the Court
A constitutional
amendment

18. MAKING A RULING

19. MAKING A RULING
MAJORITY
OPINION
DISSENTING
OPINION
CONCURRING
OPINION

20. INTERPRETING THE
CONSTITUTION
Judicial Activism vs.
Judicial Restraint
Loose Interpretation vs.
Strict Interpretation