Powers of the Judicial BranchHear cases Judge casesGive decisions on cases which deal with

breaking laws made by CongressDeclare constitutionality of laws

Main Job: to explain and interpret laws created by Congress

The Judicial Branch in the Constitution The judicial power of the United States is vested in

the federal court system The highest court in the federal court system is the

Supreme Court Congress may create other “inferior” courts that are

below the Supreme Court Supreme Court justices and other federal judges hold

lifetime appointment, unless removed from office Federal judges are appointed by the President Congress may not decrease the pay of federal judges

or Supreme Court justices while they are in office Can only convict someone of treason, if you have

two witnesses

Three types of Federal CourtsFederal District CourtsUS Circuit Courts of AppealUS Supreme Court

Federal District CourtsKnown as “trial” courtsHear almost all court casesHold original jurisdiction in most cases

Jurisdiction:The right to hear a case firstCases are heard where the event in question

took place Extradition: people being brought to the region

they are being tried inNo appeal cases heard here

US Circuit Courts of AppealA total of 13 regional courtsAppellate Courts:

Courts which hear appeals Hear cases brought from District Courts

Judges make the decisionNo original jurisdiction

US Supreme CourtOnly level created by the Constitution9 Supreme Court Justices Judges make a decision based on majority

of votesOnly court with judicial review: power to

declare an act of government constitutional or not

Receives cases that have gone through lower courts and is the highest level

Original jurisdiction in cases involving states and foreign countries