1. Bell Ringer Vocabulary activity: Appeals Court Dissenting opinion
Error of law
Precedent
Concurring opinion

2. Class Discussion Activity
Pre - learning activity How many different types of courts are there?

3. Video: Structure of the Court System: Crash Course Government and Politics #19 (6:58)

4. Structure of the Court System

5. Structure of the Court System
Federal Courts
Limited Jurisdiction – limited to cases involving federal law and civil cases involving parties from two different states when the disputed amount is greater $75k
Known as U.S. District courts
Article III – Supreme Court and federal court system
Handles roughly 1.4 million cases per year
Federal judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate (life time appointments)

7. Class Discussion Activity
Problem 5.3 (Pg. 53)

8. Structure of the Court System
State Courts
Resemble federal court system in structure and procedure
Known as Superior, County, District or Municipal Courts
Often specialized (traffic, family, criminal, probate, small claims)
Lower state court decisions can only be appealed to the state Supreme Court (exception- if the case involves federal law or a constitutional issue)

9. Structure of the Court System
Tribal Courts
“Domestic dependent nations”
Perform same functions as state/federal courts
Jurisdiction based on variable factors

10. Structure of the Court System
Military Courts
Enforces the Uniform code of military justice
Governs all uniformed members of the U.S. Military
Higher moral standards
May be used to try enemy combatants
Trials are known as court martials