The Federal Court System

1
The Federal Court System
CHAPTER 11

• Section 1 The Lower Courts
• Section 2 The Supreme Court
• Section 3 The Courts and the Public Good

2
Section 1 The Lower Courts

• Objectives
• What are the role and the authority of the lower
  courts?
• How are the lower courts organized?
• How are the lower-court judges selected?

3
Section 1 The Lower Courts

• The role of the lower courts
• resolving disputes
• setting precedents
• interpreting the law

4
Section 1 The Lower Courts

• The authority of the lower courts to hear the
  initial trialoriginal jurisdictionof cases
  involving
• the Constitution and federal laws
• diplomats
• treaties
• the U.S. government
• state governments
• citizens of other countries or of more than one
  state

5
Section 1 The Lower Courts

• Organization of the lower courts
• district courts
• appeals courts
• special courts

6
Section 1 The Lower Courts

• Process by which the lower-court judges are
  selected
• selected by the Department of Justice or White
  House staffers
• approved or disapproved by the Senate

7
Section 2 The Supreme Court

• Objectives
• How has the role of the Supreme Court changed
  over time?
• How are the Supreme Court justices appointed, and
  what are their terms of office?
• How does the Supreme Court operate?

8
Section 2 The Supreme Court

• Changes in role of the Supreme Court
• powers grew to include judicial review
• influence over the executive and legislative
  branches ability to pursue specific public
  policies increased

9
Section 2 The Supreme Court

• Appointment process of Supreme Court justices
• The president appoints them.
• The Senate approves or rejects the appointees.
• Terms of office
• Justices can serve for life.
• Each annual session lasts approximately eight
  months.

10
Section 2 The Supreme Court

• Operation of the Supreme Court
• Lawyers file a written brief.
• Justices hear oral arguments.
• They have conferences to discuss the case and
  prepare their opinions.
• Justices announce their decision.

11
Section 3 The Courts and the Public Good

• Objectives
• What are the issues raised by judicial activism
  and judicial restraint?
• How can the courts power be checked?

12
Section 3 The Courts and the Public Good

• Issues raised by judicial activism and judicial
  restraint
• Federal judges overstep their powers through
  judicial activism.
• If federal judges exercise judicial restraint,
  then the minority views and rights may go unheard
  and unprotected.

13
Section 3 The Courts and the Public Good

• Ways the courts power can be checked
• appointment process of justices
• congressional power to pass amendments
• refusal of states or individuals to obey judicial
  decisions

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Chapter Wrap-Up

• 1. Describe the organization of the lower federal
  courts.
• 2. What is the selection process for lower-court
  judges?
• 3. How has the Supreme Courts power changed
  since the late 1700s?
• 4. Describe the process a case goes through in
  the Supreme Court.

15
Chapter Wrap-Up

• 5. How do the executive and legislative branches
  check the Supreme Courts power?
• 6. What are some common criticisms of the
  judiciary?