The Judicial Branch of the USA The structure and work

Content 1. Definition of the judicial Branch 2. The supreme court 3. The lower courts 4. The powers of The Judicial Branch 5. Check and Balance System

The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary. The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) is the highest judicial body in the United States, and leads the federal judiciary.judiciary Once appointed, Justices effectively have life tenure, serving "during good Behavior“ which terminates only upon death, resignation, retirement, or conviction on impeachment. Once appointed, Justices effectively have life tenure, serving "during good Behavior“ which terminates only upon death, resignation, retirement, or conviction on impeachment. impeachment

Supreme courts judges It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" (majority vote) of the Senate It consists of the Chief Justice of the United States and eight Associate Justices, who are nominated by the President and confirmed with the "advice and consent" (majority vote) of the SenateChief Justice of the United StatesAssociate JusticesPresidentadvice and consentSenateChief Justice of the United StatesAssociate JusticesPresidentadvice and consentSenate

Lower Courts Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation U.S. Bankruptcy Courts U.S. Bankruptcy Courts U.S. Bankruptcy Courts U.S. Bankruptcy Courts U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit U.S. Court of International Trade U.S. Court of International Trade U.S. Court of International Trade U.S. Court of International Trade U.S. Courts of Appeals U.S. Courts of Appeals U.S. Courts of Appeals U.S. Courts of Appeals U.S. District Courts U.S. District Courts U.S. District Courts U.S. District Courts U.S. Federal Courts, by Geographic Location and Circuit U.S. Federal Courts, by Geographic Location and Circuit U.S. Federal Courts, by Geographic Location and Circuit U.S. Federal Courts, by Geographic Location and Circuit

Special Courts U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims U.S. Court of Federal Claims U.S. Court of Federal Claims U.S. Court of Federal Claims U.S. Court of Federal Claims U.S. Tax Court U.S. Tax Court U.S. Tax Court U.S. Tax Court

Powers Determines which jurisdiction any given case falls under Determines which jurisdiction any given case falls under Judges when a law is unconstitutional Judges when a law is unconstitutional Has the responsibility to administer Constitutional law and to apply it to constitutional disputes Has the responsibility to administer Constitutional law and to apply it to constitutional disputes Determines the disposition of prisoners Determines the disposition of prisoners

May legally compel testimony and the production of evidence as the law provides. May legally compel testimony and the production of evidence as the law provides. Judges and competently administers uniform policies via the appeals process, but gives discretion in individual cases to low-level judges. (The amount of discretion depends upon the standard of review, determined by the type of case in question.) Judges and competently administers uniform policies via the appeals process, but gives discretion in individual cases to low-level judges. (The amount of discretion depends upon the standard of review, determined by the type of case in question.) Oversees and administers members of the judiciary Oversees and administers members of the judiciary

Check and balance System

By creating three branches of government, the delegates built a "check and balance" system into the Constitution. This system was built so that no one branch of our government could become too powerful. By creating three branches of government, the delegates built a "check and balance" system into the Constitution. This system was built so that no one branch of our government could become too powerful.

Each branch is restrained by the other two in several ways. For example, the president may veto a law passed by Congress. Each branch is restrained by the other two in several ways. For example, the president may veto a law passed by Congress. Congress can override that veto with a vote of two-thirds of both houses. Another example is that the Supreme Court may check Congress by declaring a law unconstitutional. Congress can override that veto with a vote of two-thirds of both houses. Another example is that the Supreme Court may check Congress by declaring a law unconstitutional. The power is balanced by the fact that members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president. Those appointments have to be approved by Congress The power is balanced by the fact that members of the Supreme Court are appointed by the president. Those appointments have to be approved by Congress