J UDICIAL B RANCH
L AWS FOR THE G OOD OF A LL Laws – written rule of conduct Usually represent majority rule – or what the majority of citizens believe to be right and wrong Each citizens duty to obey laws.
K INDS OF L AWS Statutory Law – laws passed by a lawmaking body Exp. Speed Limits for drivers Common law – laws that come from common practice and past judge’s decisions Set by precedent – or earlier decision Exp. When segregation was still legal, Jim Crow laws were common law.
K INDS OF L AWS C ONT. Administrative Law – laws made by government agencies All FAA rules with flying and airport security. Constitutional Law – based on the Constitution of the United States All US citizens have the right to vote.
R OLE OF COURTS Courts settle disputes between people, people and the government, and two governments. For a law to be just it must be enforced fairly Courts make sure laws are enforced fairly To be fair – the court assumes all people are innocent until proven guilty
R IGHT TO A F AIR T RIAL Constitution guarantees every person to a fair and speedy trial. You have the right… To have a lawyer Be released on bail Indicted by a grand jury To a jury trial Innocent until proven guilty Of appeal
C ASES T RIED IN F EDERAL C OURT Disobeying the Constitution Violating a US Treaty Breaking Laws passed by Congress Crimes of US ships at sea Disagreements between states Lawsuits between citizens of different states
J URISDICTION Jurisdiction = authority to interpret and administer the law Federal Court has several levels but two types of jurisdiction Original Jurisdiction = first courts where a federal case is heard Appellate Jurisdiction = courts that deal with appeals.
D IFFERENT K INDS OF C OURTS District Courts – first place for federal trials. Judges appointed for life and decide punishment if found guilty. Court of Appeals – Hear cases appealed from the district court. There are 12 court of appeals. There are no jury trials here – judges decide if justice was done. If not, the case goes back the district court. Supreme Court – highest court and all decisions are final. Cases involving diplomatic relations, disputes between states, and disputes between states and federal gov’t.
S UPREME C OURT 1 Chief Justice = $223,500 and 8 associate justices = $213,900 Currently 2 from Reagan, 1 from GHW Bush, 2 Clinton, 2 GW Bush, 2 Obama Current Chief Justice is John Roberts - Special power of Judicial Review – decide whether a law or presidential action is Constitutional.