Federal Court
System
Unit 6: Judicial Branch & Civil Rights
Dual Court System
Articles of Confederation
• Why was a national judiciary necessary?
Dual Court System
Article III of the U.S. Constitution
• Created Supreme Court and the ability of
Congress to establish federal court system
Dual Court System
Judiciary Act of 1789
• Created one district court for every state
and territory
• Fifty states are divided into 89 federal
districts plus Washington, D.C. and four
territories (94 total)
Dual Court System
Dual Court System
Dual Court System
National Judiciary
• the Supreme Court and other federal
courts
State Judiciary
• All cases not heard in federal courts
are in the jurisdiction of State courts
Dual Court System
Jurisdiction
Two Types:
• Jurisdiction within a court system
• Jurisdiction between state and federal
court systems
Jurisdiction
Within a Court System
Original Jurisdiction
• Authority to be the first court to hear a
case
Appellate Jurisdiction
• Power to review cases already
decided in lower courts
Jurisdiction
Between court systems
Exclusive Jurisdiction
• Cases may only be heard in federal
court
Concurrent Jurisdiction
• Both the federal and State courts can
hear a case
Jurisdiction
• Within federal court
Constitutional Courts
Federal Judges
Appointed by Pres., Approved by
Senate
o senatorial courtesy
• Qualifications
• Term
• Impeachment
Constitutional Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Judiciary Act and Supreme Court
• Established Supreme Court of six associate justices
and one chief justice
o It has been nine since 1869
Constitutional Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Court Orders
•
•
•
•
Remand
Writ of Certiorari
Injunction
Writ of Mandamus
Constitutional Courts
U.S. Supreme Court
Court Decisions
• Majority Opinion
• Concurring Opinion
• Dissenting Opinion
Constitutional Courts
Other Courts
U.S Court of Claims
• Sovereign Immunity
• Payment
Military Court
• Courts-martial
U.S. Court of Military Appeals
• Civilian Tribunal