1. The Judicial Branch Article III

2. Purpose Interpret Laws Interpret Laws Determine if laws and actions are constitutional Determine if laws and actions are constitutional Protect individual rights and civil liberties through court case rulings Protect individual rights and civil liberties through court case rulings

3. National Judiciary – Federal Court System Supreme Court Supreme Court Inferior Courts Inferior Courts Special Courts Special Courts

4. Inferior Courts Hear both criminal and civil cases dealing with powers invested to the Federal government Hear both criminal and civil cases dealing with powers invested to the Federal government 94 U.S. district courts 94 U.S. district courts 12 appeals courts 12 appeals courts “gatekeepers” to the Supreme Court “gatekeepers” to the Supreme Court Hear appeals to inferior courts before being passed on to the SC Hear appeals to inferior courts before being passed on to the SC

5. Special Courts Created to hear cases which revolved around expressed powers of Congress Created to hear cases which revolved around expressed powers of Congress They were not created under Article III and do not have all Judicial Powers They were not created under Article III and do not have all Judicial Powers Federal Claims Court Federal Claims Court Territorial Courts Territorial Courts District of Columbia Courts District of Columbia Courts Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims Tax Court Tax Court

6. Supreme Court Highest of all the courts Highest of all the courts 9 Justices 9 Justices Serve for life Serve for life Only removable via impeachment Only removable via impeachment Appointed by the President Appointed by the President Session runs from October through June Session runs from October through June Accepts to hear cases by “rule of four” Accepts to hear cases by “rule of four” 4 of the 9 Justices must agree to hear the case 4 of the 9 Justices must agree to hear the case Usually a case involves a significant point of law Usually a case involves a significant point of law

7. Why are SC rulings important? Rulings determine how laws are interpreted and applied, thus creating and clarifying laws themselves. Rulings determine how laws are interpreted and applied, thus creating and clarifying laws themselves. One way laws are created One way laws are created Majority Opinion determines the outcome Majority Opinion determines the outcome Written Opinions of the Courts Written Opinions of the Courts Dissenting opinions are also written and explained Dissenting opinions are also written and explained

8. How cases reach the Supreme Court 1. Heard in a State Court, District Court, or Special Court 2. A person can appeal the decision of one of these courts 3. Case is sent to an Appeals Court or the Highest State Court 4. Appeals Courts can make a ruling or pass the appeal on to the Supreme Court  Decisions in Appeals Courts are final

9. When it reaches the SC The Supreme Court has three options it can do with appeals that reach the SC The Supreme Court has three options it can do with appeals that reach the SC 1. Allow the lower-court ruling to stand 2. Send it back to the lower court to reconsider 3. Agree to hear the case