1. Court Systems -Two Separate Court Systems Federal: State: Checks and balances -Two kinds of court cases Civil: No crime has been comitted Criminal the law has been broken

2. Court Systems -Two Separate Court Systems Federal State -Two kinds of court cases Civil Criminal

3. Jurisdiction -the authority to hear a question or case in dispute -Original Jurisdiction -this belongs to the court which has the initial authority to hear a case -Exclusive Jurisdiction -means that jurisdiction belongs to only one group -Concurrent Jurisdiction -this means that a case can be heard in one of several courts

4. Constitution -Example If a person believes his or her constitutional rights have been violated… That person has the right to be heard in a federal court Ex: freedom of speech, freedom from/of religion

5. Federal Law -Example Federal courts try people for federal crimes… such as… Ex: Kidnapping, tax evasion, counterfeiting Also hear civil cases involving federal laws.

6. Maritime Laws -What You need you know… Maritime law is the law that exclusively govern activities at sea or in any navigable waters. In the United States, federal courts have jurisdiction over maritime law. Example: Solving a dispute over a newly discovered ship wreck. Disputes dealing with liability at sea (Cruise Ships)

7. Disputes involving the U.S. Government -Example The Federal Gov’t could take a company to court for failing to live up to a contract to deliver supplies to a Gov’t Department. Ex: If the U.S. Army vehicle was responsible for damages that occurred during a wreck.

8. Controversies between states -Example Disputes between states are resolved in Federal Courts Ex: The Catawba River got its day in court yesterday, the Supreme Court that is. Why the Supreme Court? Because when one state sues another -- in this case South Carolina sued North Carolina -- that's where the cases are heard. The argument? How the Catawba River will be used for drinking water, municipalities and industry. South Carolina says their sister to the north uses too much of the river. North Carolina says uh uuhh (From a 2009 news article)

9. Disputes between citizens of different states -Example Mrs. Erdie of Louisiana may bring suit in a federal court against Mr. Smith of North Carolina for not fulfilling his part of a business agreement. Ex: Mrs. Erdie’s cabinet making company relies on raw material such as North Carolina Pine from Mr. Smith’s lumber yard.

10. Disputes involving Different governments -Need to Know Any dispute between a foreign government and an American Company or individual will be heard in a Federal court. Ex: General Motors is being sued by a foreign countries government for failure to uphold contract obligations regarding providing vehicles to that government.

11. Cases involving U.S. Officials in Foreign Nations -Example An American diplomat working in the U.S. embassy in France is accused of breaking American Law…this case would be handled in a U.S. Federal Court.