1. The Supreme Court and the Federal Court System
The Judicial Branch
The Supreme Court and the Federal Court System

2. Creation of the National Judiciary
The Constitution’s vague plan for the national judiciary can be found in Article 3 of the Constitution.
Remember, there was no judicial branch under the Articles of Confederation.

3. Two kinds of “Inferior” Federal Courts
Constitutional Courts: these courts exercise the judicial power of the United States
Special Courts: these courts were created to hear cases arising out of the expressed powers given to Congress.

4. The Constitutional Courts
Only the Supreme Court is mentioned in the Constitution
Size of the Supreme Court is set by Congress (9)
This court does not use a jury!
Hears appeals from lower federal courts and highest state courts
The Supreme Court

6. The Constitutional Courts
These courts were created to assist the Supreme Court in the appellate process.
These are bench trials.
Hears appeals from the U.S. District Courts and certain other federal courts and commissions.
U.S. Courts of Appeals

7. The Constitutional Courts
These use a judge and a jury. (Trial Courts)
These courts try cases involving federal crimes and federal civil proceedings.
This is the “first stop” in the federal judicial process.
U.S. District Courts

8. Jurisdiction of the “regular” federal courts:
U.S. District Courts: original
U.S. Courts of Appeals: appellate
Supreme Court – appellate and original
The U.S. Supreme Court is the “court of last resort”. It hears appeals from federal, state and special courts. There is no higher authority!