Isabella Carter
The constitutional basis for a national court system is a federal system of government, established by the U.S. Constitution, in which power is shared between the federal government and state governments. The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court and permits Congress to decide how to organise it. Article III of the Constitution also establishes the federal judiciary, with the judicial power of the United States vested in one Supreme Court and inferior courts as ordained and established by Congress. The Judiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system. Federal courts have limited jurisdiction, hearing cases authorised by the Constitution or federal statutes, and their judges are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of Supreme Court justices | 9 (1 chief justice and 8 associate justices) |
| Appointment of Supreme Court justices | Appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a life term |
| Jurisdiction of federal courts | Limited; cases authorized by the Constitution or federal statutes |
| Jurisdiction of district courts | Original jurisdiction for cases arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties |
| Jurisdiction overlap between state and federal courts | Plaintiff chooses where to bring the case; defendant may "remove" to federal court if plaintiff chooses state court |
| Diversity jurisdiction | Plaintiff from one state can file a lawsuit in federal court against a defendant from another state |
| Federal trial courts | Established for subject-specific areas, e.g., bankruptcy, tax, claims against the federal government |
| Number of federal circuits | 12 |
| Federal appellate courts | 13, called U.S. courts of appeals |
| Federal district courts | 94 |
| Federal bankruptcy courts | 90 |
| Federal judiciary establishment | Article III of the Constitution |
| Federal court system establishment | Judiciary Act of 1789 |
| Federal court jurisdiction regulation | Congress |
| Federal court jurisdiction expansion and restriction | Discretionary power of Congress |
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What You'll Learn
The US Constitution establishes a federal judiciary system
Article III of the Constitution establishes the federal judiciary, and it created the Supreme Court. Article III, Section I states:
> "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."
Although the Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, it allows Congress to decide how to organise it. Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices. This Act also established the lower federal court system.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US and is the court of last resort for those seeking justice. It has the power of judicial review, which means it can declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. It also plays an essential role in ensuring that each branch of government recognises the limits of its power.
The federal judiciary has original jurisdiction, meaning they can only hear cases authorised by the US Constitution or federal statutes. The federal district court is the starting point for any case arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties. This is called "original jurisdiction". There are 94 district or trial courts, which are called US district courts.
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The Supreme Court is the highest court in the US
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest federal court in the country. It was established in 1789 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 final appellate powers over the federal court system, and its decisions cannot be appealed.
The Supreme Court consists of nine members, including one Chief Justice and eight Associate Justices. These justices are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. They typically hold office for life, and their salaries cannot be decreased during their term. The Court meets in Washington, D.C.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over certain cases, such as suits between two or more states or cases involving ambassadors. It also has appellate jurisdiction over almost any case involving a point of constitutional or federal law. The Court can choose whether or not to hear a case, and it agrees to hear about 100-150 cases out of the more than 7,000 cases it is asked to review each year.
The Supreme Court's most well-known power is judicial review, which is the ability to declare a legislative or executive act in violation of the Constitution. This power was established in the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803. Through judicial review, the Court has defined the scope and nature of the powers of the legislative and executive branches, ensuring that each branch recognises the limits of its power.
The decisions of the Supreme Court have a significant impact on American society. They protect civil rights and liberties, set limits on democratic government, and ensure that the changing views of the majority do not undermine fundamental American values such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and due process of law.
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Federal courts have limited jurisdiction
Federal courts in the United States are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning they can only hear cases authorized by the United States Constitution or federal statutes. This type of jurisdiction is called \"original jurisdiction\". The federal district court is the starting point for any case arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties.
Article III of the U.S. Constitution establishes the federal judiciary and authorizes Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. Article III, Section II establishes the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, which has original jurisdiction over certain cases and appellate jurisdiction on almost any other case involving a point of constitutional and/or federal law.
The Supreme Court, as the highest court in the land, is the court of last resort for those seeking justice. It plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of government recognizes its limits and protects civil rights and liberties by striking down laws that violate the Constitution.
The federal court system in the United States includes several important courts of limited jurisdiction, including the U.S. Tax Court, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims, the U.S. Court of International Trade, and the U.S. Court of Military Appeals. These courts have nationwide jurisdiction for issues such as tax, claims against the federal government, and international trade.
Federal trial courts have also been established for specific subject areas, such as bankruptcy courts, which help individuals and businesses unable to pay their debts get a fresh start. Federal magistrate judges oversee criminal and civil matters, including issuing search warrants, conducting initial hearings, and handling pre-trial motions.
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Federal judges are appointed by the President
The constitutional basis for a national court system in the United States is established by Article III of the Constitution, which outlines the federal judiciary. Article III, Section I states:
> "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."
Article III thus establishes the Supreme Court and authorises Congress to pass laws creating a system of lower courts. This power was first exercised through the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system.
Federal judges, like other federal justices, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a life term. They can be impeached and removed by Congress if they do not maintain "good behaviour". The President also chooses the chief justice, who is approved by Congress and acts as the administrator of the court.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and has the power of judicial review, or the ability to declare a Legislative or Executive act in violation of the Constitution. This power was established in the case of Marbury v. Madison in 1803. The Supreme Court also plays a crucial role in ensuring that each branch of government recognises its own power limits and protects civil rights and liberties.
The federal court system consists of 13 appellate courts, 94 district or trial courts, and 90 bankruptcy courts. These courts have limited jurisdiction, meaning they can only hear cases authorised by the Constitution or federal statutes. This includes cases arising under federal statutes, the Constitution, or treaties, as well as cases based on diversity jurisdiction.
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Congress can expand or restrict Federal court jurisdiction
The US Constitution establishes the federal judiciary and authorises Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts. Article III, Section I of the Constitution states:
> "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."
Congress first exercised this power in the Judiciary Act of 1789, which created a Supreme Court with six justices and established the lower federal court system. The Act also established with great particularity a limited jurisdiction for the district and circuit courts.
Congress has the power to create and define the jurisdiction of federal courts inferior to the Supreme Court, such as Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and various other Article I and Article III tribunals. This power is granted in the congressional powers clause and the judicial vesting clause. Congress has the power to make exceptions to and regulations of the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court.
Congress has continued to build on the interpretation of the Judiciary Act of 1789, exercising a discretionary power to expand or restrict Federal court jurisdiction. For example, Congress has sometimes limited federal involvement in state cases by setting a minimum amount in controversy to bar lower federal courts from hearing diversity cases involving less than that amount.
Congress may also strip the power of the federal judiciary to hear certain classes of cases, or "court-stripping". This can be done in two ways: changing the court that will hear the case, or insulating statutes from judicial review altogether.
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Frequently asked questions
Article III of the U.S. Constitution establishes the federal judiciary and authorizes Congress to pass laws establishing a system of lower courts.
The Supreme Court is the highest court in the United States and is the court of last resort for those seeking justice. It also has the power of judicial review, which allows it to ensure that each branch of government recognizes its limits and protects civil rights and liberties.
Federal courts are courts of limited jurisdiction, meaning they can only hear cases authorized by the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes. State courts handle cases arising under state law, but there may be overlap with federal courts in certain situations.
Federal judges, including Supreme Court justices, are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for a life term. They can be impeached and removed by Congress if they do not maintain "good behavior."
The federal court system consists of 94 district or trial courts, 13 appellate courts (also known as U.S. Courts of Appeals), and the Supreme Court at the top. There are also specialized courts for bankruptcy, tax, and other subject-specific areas. The country is divided into twelve regional circuits for the purposes of appeals.
