The U.S. Court System #1

Dual System The United States Constitution allows for a dual system of Courts; which consists of state courts and U.S. Federal courts.

Where does the Court system get its authority? The U.S. Federal Court system gets its authority to exist from the Constitution and federal laws.

What cases are in the federal courts? The federal courts try cases involving federal law and questions involving the interpretation of the Constitution of the United States.

U. S. Federal System The Supreme Court is the highest court in the land. Box 1: It has nine Justices (not judges) When it hears a case, there is NO JURY It has the authority for APPELLATE jurisdiction, meaning it can hear appeals And it has LIMITED original jurisdiction (international cases, treaties, Ambassadors) It also has JUDICIAL REVIEW, or the ability to decide if law or acts of the Executive Branch are unconstitutional!

The U.S. Court of Appeals The middle court system of the federal courts is the U.S. Court of Appeals. It hears appeals from lower courts. Box 2: Judges – not justices No jury Appellate jurisdiction – they can only hear cases appealed from a lower court

U.S. District Court The U.S. District Court is the lowest court in the U.S. Federal system. This is where most federal cases begin. Judges With a jury, OR without a jury Original jurisdiction – meaning they hear cases for the first time.

Last two questions: The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the land Virginia’s state laws must conform to the Virginia and U.S. Constitution.