1. The Judicial Branch
Chapter 7

2. Essential Questions
In what ways is the United States a nation of laws?
What are the five sources of law in the United States?
What roles do the courts play in the United States?

3. A Nation of Laws
Criminal law: refers to the group of laws that define what acts are crimes; describes how a person accused of a crime should be tried in court and how the crimes will be punished.
Crime: any behavior that is illegal because it is considered harmful to society.

4. Civil law: group of laws that refer to disputes between people.

5. Sources of Law
Statutory law – laws passed by lawmaking bodies (statutes).
Represent what the majority of citizens believe to be right or wrong.
Common law – decisions based on customs, traditions, and cases that have been decided before.

6. Administrative law- Laws that affect our daily lives that are created by government agencies.
Ex. Health, safety, education, and banking
Military law – Governs behavior of men and women in all branches of the U.S. armed forces.
Uniform Code of Military Justice

7. Constitutional law – Constitution and Supreme Court decisions interpreting the Constitution.
Law of the land

8. Roles of the Courts Settle disputes
Person v. person
People v. government
Appeal – process by which a person asks a higher court to review the result of the trial.

9. Section 2 Essential Questions
What is the purpose of the U.S. district courts?
How are the U.S. courts of appeal different from the district ones?
What is the role of the U.S. Supreme Court?

10. The Federal Court System
Jurisdiction: the extent or scope of authority that court has properly been brought before it.
Original
Appellate

11. Three Levels of Federal Courts
U.S. Federal Districts
Lowest level of courts in U.S. district courts
District courts: trial courts; original jurisdiction.
Original jurisdiction: authority of a court to hear and decide a case for the first time.
Federal district courts are the “local” courts in the federal court system.
There are 94 federal district courts in the U.S.

12. U.S. District Judges
Federal district judges are trial judges; criminal or civil cases; jury or no jury.
All federal judges (except in U.S. territories) are appointed for life by the president and must be approved by the Senate.

13. U.S. Court of Appeals
Court of appeals: losing party may “appeal” judges ruling and take case to higher court.
Appellate jurisdiction: power to review decisions of lower courts.
“appellate” means relating to appeals.
Appeal courts do not use juries.

14. The U.S. Supreme Court Highest Court in the land
Mainly an appeals court
Justice: judge
9 justices; 3 female, 6 male

15. Section 3 Essential Questions
What is the power of judicial review?
What are the constitutional checks on the Supreme Court’s powers?
How has the Supreme Court strengthened constitutional rights?

16. Judicial Review
Courts’ power to decide whether a law or presidential action is in agreement with the Constitution.
Marbury v. Madison

17. Choosing a case
Over 8,000 cases are filed with the Supreme Court yearly.
requests are decided.
Cases must be important to the Constitution or based on national questions.
Remand: to return a case to the lower courts for a new trial.

18. Hearing and Deciding Cases
Cases are oral arguments
Lawyers have 30 min. to present their case
Justices read written arguments and go over previous court readings
Voting is help in private
Decisions reached by simply majority
Opinion
Reasoning that led to the decision

19. Concurring opinion Dissenting opinion
When a justice agrees with the decision of the majority, but for different reasons.
Dissenting opinion
Explains why the justice believes the majority opinion is wrong.
Has no effect on the law

20. Supreme Court Justices
Size of Supreme Court determined by Congress
Since 1869, there has been 9 justices
1 Chief Justice
8 Associate Justices
Only removed by impeachment
No special requirements

21. Checking the Court’s Power
Supreme Court justices are chosen by the president, but are approved by the Senate.
If the court deems a law unconstitutional, then Congress has a chance to rewrite the law until the Supreme Court will enforce it.

22. Strengthening Rights
Supreme Court allows the Constitution to meet the demands of the changing times.
Brown v. Board of Education
Segregation is unconstitutional