Simone Lawson
The US Constitution divides the federal government into three branches: the legislative, executive, and judicial. The judicial branch, established by Article III of the Constitution, is an integral part of the US government and plays a crucial role in interpreting and upholding the law. It comprises the Supreme Court and other federal courts, with the Supreme Court being the highest court in the land and the only part of the federal judiciary specifically mandated by the Constitution. The judicial branch is responsible for deciding the constitutionality of laws, resolving disputes, and ensuring fair trials for all citizens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Supreme Court Justices | Not stipulated by the Constitution; set by Congress. There have been as few as six, but since 1869 there have been nine Justices, including one Chief Justice. |
| Appointment of Justices | All Justices are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and hold their offices under life tenure. |
| Role | The judicial branch has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve other cases involving federal laws. |
| Checks and Balances | Each branch can change the acts of the others. For example, the President can veto legislation created by Congress. |
| Jurisdiction | The judicial power extends to all cases in law and equity arising under the Constitution, laws of the United States, and treaties made under their authority. |
| Structure | The federal judiciary is made up of the Supreme Court and lower courts established by Congress. |
| Right to a Fair Trial | Article III guarantees that every person accused of wrongdoing has the right to a fair trial before a competent judge and a jury of one's peers. |
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What You'll Learn
- The US Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of three branches of the federal government
- The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts
- The Constitution guarantees the right to a fair trial
- The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land
- The Constitution grants Congress the power to establish inferior courts
The US Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of three branches of the federal government
Article III of the US Constitution outlines the judicial branch's powers and structure. It establishes the Supreme Court as the highest court in the land and authorises Congress to create lower courts. The Supreme Court's caseload is mostly appellate in nature, and its decisions cannot be appealed to any authority. It is the final judicial arbiter in the US on matters of federal law. The US has 13 appellate or circuit courts, and 94 district or trial courts. The appellate courts determine whether the law was correctly applied in the lower courts or federal agencies, while the district courts resolve disputes by determining the facts and applying the law. There are also 90 bankruptcy courts to help people and businesses get a fresh start.
Article III also guarantees the right to a fair trial for anyone accused of wrongdoing. It ensures that all cases are heard by a competent judge and a jury of one's peers. The judicial branch has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve cases involving them. Federal courts are the only institutions with the power to interpret the law, determine its constitutionality, and apply it to individual cases.
While each branch of the US government is formally separate, they are often required to cooperate. For example, federal laws are passed by Congress and signed by the President, but judges depend on the executive branch to enforce court decisions. The President nominates Supreme Court justices, but they must be confirmed by the Senate. This system of checks and balances ensures that the branches work together while also preventing one branch from becoming too powerful.
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The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts
The US Constitution establishes three distinct branches of the federal government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The judicial branch, as outlined in Article III of the Constitution, includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the American judicial system. It is the final level of appeal in the federal system, and its decisions cannot be appealed to any other authority. The Supreme Court's caseload is primarily appellate in nature, with the Court hearing appeals on cases brought in federal or state courts that deal with federal law. The Court's members, referred to as "justices," are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for life terms.
Below the Supreme Court are the appellate courts, also known as the circuit courts. There are 13 appellate courts in the US, and they are called the US Courts of Appeals. These courts determine whether the law was correctly applied in the trial court or federal administrative agency. If a case involves a federal law, it can be appealed from a state court to a federal appellate court.
The lowest level of the federal court system is the district court, also known as the trial court. There are 94 district courts in the US, and they resolve disputes by determining the facts and applying the law to those facts. District courts are the starting point for any case arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties, and this type of jurisdiction is called "original jurisdiction."
In addition to these three main levels, there are also bankruptcy courts and Article I courts, which are not considered part of the Third Branch. Bankruptcy courts help individuals and businesses unable to pay their debts, while Article I Courts include specialised courts such as the US Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and the US Tax Court.
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The Constitution guarantees the right to a fair trial
The US Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government. The Constitution guarantees the right to a fair trial, with Article III stating that "the judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution".
Article III of the Constitution also ensures that every person accused of wrongdoing has the right to a fair trial before a competent judge and a jury of their peers. This right to a fair trial is further reinforced by the Sixth Amendment, which grants the accused the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district in which the crime was committed. The accused also has the right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to confront witnesses against them, to obtain witnesses in their favour, and to have the assistance of counsel for their defence.
The Fourteenth Amendment's due process clause has been interpreted by the Supreme Court as a limit on the power of both state and federal governments, ensuring that the promise of a fair trial applies equally to all citizens. This "due process revolution" transformed the Bill of Rights into a national code of criminal procedure.
The judicial branch plays a crucial role in upholding the right to a fair trial. It has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve cases involving federal laws. The Supreme Court, as the highest court in the land, is the final judicial arbiter in the United States on matters of federal law. The lower courts, including the district courts and courts of appeals, also contribute to ensuring fair trials by resolving disputes and determining the facts and application of the law.
In conclusion, the US Constitution's establishment of the judicial branch and its guarantees of due process and specific trial rights ensures that all citizens accused of wrongdoing have the right to a fair trial, with the judicial system providing a framework for administering justice impartially.
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The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land
The US Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of the three distinct branches of the federal government, alongside the legislative and executive branches. The judicial branch has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve cases involving federal laws.
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the federal judiciary of the United States. It was established by Article III of the US Constitution, which states that "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish."
The Supreme Court has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all US federal court cases and state court cases that involve questions of US constitutional or federal law. It also has original jurisdiction over a narrow range of cases, including those affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls, as well as those in which a state is a party. The Court's caseload is almost entirely appellate in nature, and its decisions cannot be appealed to any authority, making it the final judicial arbiter in the United States on matters of federal law.
The number of Supreme Court Justices is not stipulated by the Constitution but is instead set by Congress. There have been as few as five and as many as ten Justices, but since 1869, there have been nine Justices, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. All Justices are nominated by the President, confirmed by the Senate, and typically hold office for life.
The Supreme Court plays a crucial role in the constitutional system of government. It has the authority to strike down state laws found to be in violation of the Constitution and has the final say over when a right is protected or violated by the Constitution. The Court's decisions have a significant impact on society, with several landmark cases shaping the rights and freedoms of US citizens.
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The Constitution grants Congress the power to establish inferior courts
The US Constitution establishes three distinct branches of the federal government: the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The Constitution grants Congress the power to establish inferior federal courts or lower federal courts subordinate to the Supreme Court of the United States. This is in accordance with Article III's Vesting Clause, which places the judicial power of the United States in the Supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress may establish.
The judicial branch, as established by Article III of the Constitution, guarantees every person accused of wrongdoing the right to a fair trial before a competent judge and a jury of their peers. It also authorizes Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is the only part of the federal judiciary specifically required by the Constitution. The Constitution does not stipulate the number of Supreme Court Justices, leaving this to be set by Congress.
The Constitution thus leaves the federal judiciary's structure, including the existence of federal courts besides the Supreme Court, to be determined by Congress. Congress has the authority to decide whether lower federal courts should exist and enjoys broad power to structure the lower courts, make procedural rules, and regulate their jurisdiction. This includes the power to regulate modes and practices of proceeding in inferior federal courts.
Inferior federal courts were created, but they were generally not given jurisdiction over cases involving the Constitution, laws, and treaties of the United States. Their diversity jurisdiction was limited, and equity jurisdiction was restricted to cases where a "plain, adequate, and complete remedy" could not be obtained through other legal means. The establishment of inferior federal courts was proposed by James Wilson and James Madison, who later served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court. They argued that without inferior federal tribunals, the Supreme Court's appellate workload would become unmanageable.
The inferior courts are constrained by the decisions of the Supreme Court and must apply the Supreme Court's interpretation of a law to the facts of a particular case. The Supreme Court's appellate jurisdiction is subject to "exceptions and regulations" prescribed by Congress, and the jurisdiction of inferior federal courts is subject to congressional prescription.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the US Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government.
The judicial branch has the authority to decide the constitutionality of federal laws and resolve cases involving federal laws. The judicial branch includes the Supreme Court and other federal courts.
The members of the judicial branch, including Supreme Court justices, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is the final judicial arbiter on matters of federal law. The Court's caseload is almost entirely appellate in nature, and it hears comparatively few cases each year.
Article III of the US Constitution guarantees that every person accused of wrongdoing has the right to a fair trial before a competent judge and a jury of their peers.
