The Judicial Branch

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The Judicial Branch

• I. General Facts
• 1. Article III of U.S. Constitution
• 2. Justices appointed by President
• a. Approved by Senate
• 3. Appointed for life
• a. Must have a law degree
• 4. Removal of Supreme Court Justice
• a. Voluntarily step down
• b. Impeachment

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II. Major Types of Federal Courts

• 1. Supreme Court
• a. 9 Supreme Court Justices
• -Head officerChief Justice
• b. Meet in Supreme Court Building
• c. Salary (see Blue Book)
• d. Judicial Review
• -is a law Constitutional?
• -does it serve the people?

The United States Supreme Court Justices and
Chief Justice - Back Row (left to right) Ruth
Bader Ginsburg, David Hackett Souter, Clarence
Thomas, Stephen Breyer. Front Row (left to
right) Antonin Scalia, John Paul Stevens,
William Hubbs Rehnquist, Sandra Day O'Connor,
Anthony M. Kennedy
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II. Major Types of Federal Courts continued

• 2. Court of Appeals
• a. 13 Courts
• -each with 3-9 Judges
• b. Hear cases of appeals
• from lower courts
• c. Salary
• -85 of Supreme
• Court Justice

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II. Major Types of Federal Courts continued

• 3. District Court
• a. 94 Courts in U.S.
• -each with 1-24 Judges
• b. Ordinary Trial Courts
• -Most federal cases begin here
• b. Salary
• -80 of Supreme
• Court Justice

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II. Other Types of Federal Courts

• 1. U.S. Claims Court
• 2. U.S. Tax Court
• 3. U.S. Court for Veterans Appeals

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Balance of PowersBranches of Government

• Legislative Executive Judicial
• I I
  I
• Congress President
  Courts
• House/Senate
  Cabinet/Police
  Judges/Jury
• I I
  I
• Make Laws Enforce Laws
  Interpret Laws
• 
  Administer Justice