1. If you’re going for the “B” or “A,” you’ll need to have information beyond the PowerPoint/Three Branches Chart. Go to the Links page and click on the “Judicial Branch” link to go to the site that will give you more information. You DON’T need to write a lot of extra information. Just 2 or 3 bits of extra information that you got from the site, that’s it. Just remember to put the information in your own words.

2. Article 3: Judicial Branch

3. What is the main function of the Judicial Branch?
Interprets the law
What does “interpret” mean?
Understand in a particular way.
The Supreme Court will determine whether a law is constitutional or unconstitutional (does it go against the Constitution?).

4. What makes up the Judicial Branch?
1) The Supreme Court
2) “Lower” Federal Courts
Check out the diagram on the next page!

5. Supreme Court U.S. Military Courts of Appeal 12 U.S. Courts of Appeal
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal Courts
U.S. Court of
International
Trade
U.S. Claims
Court
Military
Courts
U.S. Tax
Court
Territorial
Courts
94 District Courts
Courts of
D.C.
Federal Regulatory Agencies
U.S. Court of Veteran’s Appeals

6. The Supreme Court is the only court established by the Constitution.
Look at Article 3, Section 1. Who has the power to create the lower federal courts beneath the Supreme Court?
Congress, by passing a law.

7. What kind of cases does the Judicial Branch hear?
Cases involving foreign officials or countries.
Certain cases involving a state.
Cases involving the U.S..
Cases (dealing with the Constitution) coming from the “appeals” of the “lower courts.”

8. Supreme Court
U.S. Military Courts of Appeal
12 U.S. Courts of Appeal
U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal Courts
U.S. Court of
International
Trade
U.S. Claims
Court
Military
Courts
U.S. Tax
Court
Territorial
Courts
94 District Courts
Courts of
D.C.
State Supreme Court
Federal Regulatory Agencies
U.S. Court of Veteran’s Appeals
State Appeals Court
State Superior Court
All of the following courts are “federal” courts EXCEPT for the ones in orange, which are designated as “State Courts.”

10. What the Supreme Court decides becomes “precedent” (look at your vocabulary list!).
Anything that serves as an example to be followed in all future cases or situation.
You can’t change a Supreme Court ruling EXCEPT . . .

11. Reversing a Supreme Court ruling
Add a new Amendment to the Constitution.
The Fourteenth Amendment (1868) reversed the Dred Scott vs Sandford (1857) Supreme Court ruling.
2. Supreme Court reverses a previous decision.
The Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896) ruling was
reversed by the Brown vs. Board of Education
(1954) ruling over fifty years later.

12. What are the requirements for being a federal judge?
There are no exact requirements! Justices are only “expected” to have law degrees! They don’t even need to have any experience as a judge!

13. How do you become a justice of the supreme court?
Look in Article 2, Section 2.
The president nominates a Supreme Court Justices, but the SENATE must approve by a majority vote.

14. How long is the term of office for a Federal Justice?
Look at Article 3, Section 1.
Judges, both of the supreme court and lower federal courts, may stay in office as long as they maintain “good behavior.”
They serve for life!

15. That means Justices are replaced only . . .
If they retire.
If they die!
If they are impeached and found guilty.
** Recently, David Souter retired. President Obama nominated Sonia Sotomayor to take his place. The Senate confirmed her and she is now a justice.