1. Article III
The Judicial Branch

2. History of the third branch

3. What the Constitution Says
Section 1 – The Courts
Authorizes ONE supreme court
“Inferior courts”
Left up to Congress to determine the make up of the Court
“shall hold their Offices during good Behavior”
Section 2 – Jurisdiction and Power
SCOTUS has jurisdiction over:
Ambassadors or other foreign representatives
Two or more states
US government or one of its offices/agencies
Citizens of different states
A state and a citizen of a different state
A state (or citizen) and a foreign country (or citizen)
Section 3 – Treason
The Supreme Court tries cases of treason
…In Just Six Small Paragraphs

4. “Concurrent Jurisdiction” – The power of both state and federal courts to hear a case.
State crimes committed on federal property
“State Jurisdiction”
Power to hear cases about state laws
“Federal Jurisdiction”
Involve U.S. Laws, treaties with foreign countries, interpretations of the Constitution
“Original Jurisdiction”
Authority of a trial court to be the first to hear a case
“Appellate Jurisdiction”
Authority of an appellate court to hear a case that has already been decided by a lower court; power of a higher court to review and revise a lower court’s decision
Jurisdiction
-The power to hear certain cases

5. Jurisdiction (Contd.)

6. John Marshall and Judicial review
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Marshall helped to strengthen the Supreme Court - Helped to balance the powers.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
Establishing the power of “Judicial Review”
Gives the Supreme Court the ability and jurisdiction to declare any acts from Congress unconstitutional if it violates the US Constitution
The Real Power of the Supreme Court

7. The current Supreme court Justices
Justice Sonia Sotomayor Justice Stephen Breyer Justice Samuel Alito Justice Elena Kagan Justice Clarence Thomas Justice Antonin Scalia Chief Justice John Roberts Justice Anthony Kennedy Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg