1. The Federal Court System
CIVICS
CE.8A/8C
MR. COLLINS & MRS. KOZLIK

2. DUAL COURT SYSTEM U.S. HAS TWO COURT SYSTEMS: STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS
STATE COURTS HEAR MAJORITY OF LEGAL DISPUTES, INCLUDING:
CRIMINAL CASES CIVIL CASES

3. CRIMINAL CASES
COURT DETERMINES IF A PERSON ACCUSED OF BREAKING THE LAW IS OR IS NOT GUILTY OF A MISDEMEANOR OR A FELONY

4. CIVIL CASES
IN A CIVIL CASE, A COURT SETTLES A DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN TWO PARTIES

5. FEDERAL COURT JURISDICTION
ARTICLE III OF CONSTITUTION GIVES FEDERAL COURTS JURISDICTION—THE AUTHORITY TO HEAR AND DECIDE A CASE, ONLY IN SPECIFIC AREAS:
1: THE CONSTITUTION
2: FEDERAL LAWS

6. JURISDICTION (CONT.) 3: ADMIRALTY AND MARITIME LAWS
4: DISPUTES IN U.S. GOVT IS INVOLVED
5: CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN STATES
6: CONTROVERSIES BETWEEN CITIZENS OF DIFFERENT STATES

7. JURISDICTION 7: DISPUTES BETWEEN FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS
8: U.S. AMBASSADORS, MINISTERS AND CONSULS SERVING IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES (DIPLOMATS)

8. TERMINOLOGY
EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION: ONLY FEDERAL COURTS MAY HEAR AND DECIDE CASES
CONCURRENT JURISDICTION: BOTH FED. AND STATE COURTS SHARE JURISDICTION