HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1 CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT Chapter 7 The Judicial Branch Section 1:Equal Justice Under the Law Equal Justice Under the LawEqual

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON11

CIVICSCIVICS IN PRACTICEIN PRACTICEHOLTHOLT

Chapter 7Chapter 7

The Judicial BranchThe Judicial Branch

Section 1:Section 1: Equal Justice Under the LawEqual Justice Under the Law

Section 2:Section 2: The Federal Court SystemThe Federal Court System

Section 3:Section 3: The Supreme CourtThe Supreme Court



The Main Idea

The rights of all U.S. citizens are protected by laws and the courts.

Reading Focus In what ways is the United States a nation of laws? What are the four sources of law in the United

States? What roles do the courts play in the United States?




Majority rule affects the making of Majority rule affects the making of laws.laws. Laws usually reflect the opinion of the Laws usually reflect the opinion of the

majority.majority. Laws are passed for the good of all citizens.Laws are passed for the good of all citizens. Good citizenship involves abiding by the Good citizenship involves abiding by the

laws.laws. Without laws, anarchy could develop.Without laws, anarchy could develop.




Four types of U.S. laws:Four types of U.S. laws: Statutory lawStatutory law——passed by lawmaking bodiespassed by lawmaking bodies Common lawCommon law——judges’ decisions based on judges’ decisions based on

common sense, experience, and practicecommon sense, experience, and practice Administrative lawAdministrative law——created by government created by government

agenciesagencies Constitutional lawConstitutional law——based on the Constitution based on the Constitution

and its interpretation by the Courtand its interpretation by the Court




Role of the Courts in the United StatesRole of the Courts in the United States

Use law to settle disputesUse law to settle disputes Assure equal justice for all through fair trialsAssure equal justice for all through fair trials




ensure equal justice for all

provide fair public trials

SECTION 1

The Roles that Courts Play

Question: What roles do the courts play in the United States?



The Main Idea

The federal court system consists of the three levels of courts, each of which has specific duties.

Reading Focus What is the purpose of the U.S. district courts? How are the U.S. courts of appeals different from the

district courts? What is the role of the Supreme Court?




Cases tried in the federal courts:Cases tried in the federal courts:

Cases involving people charged with Cases involving people charged with disobeying the Constitution, violating a U.S. disobeying the Constitution, violating a U.S. treaty, or breaking laws passed by Congresstreaty, or breaking laws passed by Congress

Charges brought by a foreign country against Charges brought by a foreign country against the United States or its citizensthe United States or its citizens

Crimes committed on U.S. ships at seaCrimes committed on U.S. ships at sea




Cases tried in the federal courts: Cases tried in the federal courts: (continued)(continued)

Ambassadors and consuls charged with Ambassadors and consuls charged with breaking laws in a foreign countrybreaking laws in a foreign country

Crimes committed on certain federal Crimes committed on certain federal propertiesproperties

Disagreements between the statesDisagreements between the states Lawsuits between citizens of different statesLawsuits between citizens of different states




Organization of Federal CourtsOrganization of Federal Courts

NinetyNinety--four district courtsfour district courts——at base of system; at base of system; jury trials held herejury trials held here

Courts of AppealCourts of Appeal——review district court cases; 12 review district court cases; 12 courts of appeal cover circuits; panels of judges courts of appeal cover circuits; panels of judges make the decisionsmake the decisions

U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court——highest court in the land; highest court in the land; an appeals court; decisions are finalan appeals court; decisions are final




Role of the Supreme CourtRole of the Supreme Court Reviews cases from lower federal courts and Reviews cases from lower federal courts and

state courtsstate courts Constitutional jurisdiction over:Constitutional jurisdiction over:

cases involving diplomatic representatives from cases involving diplomatic representatives from other countriesother countries

disputes between statesdisputes between states disputes between states and federal governmentdisputes between states and federal government




Question: Which cases are tried in federal courts?

SECTION 2

Federal Court Cases

1. constitutional violations

2. U.S. treaty violations

3. congressional law violations4. cases between a foreign government and a U.S. citizen or the

government

5. crimes committed on U.S. ships at sea6. cases involving U.S. ambassadors and consuls who broke laws in

their stationed countries

7. crimes committed on certain types of federal property

8. disagreements between states or citizens of different states



The Main IdeaThe Supreme Court hears appeals, reviews laws, and

strongly influences American society.

Reading Focus What is the power of the judicial review? What are the constitutional checks on the Supreme

Court’s powers? How has the Supreme Court strengthened

constitutional rights?




Process through which cases are tried Process through which cases are tried in the Supreme Court:in the Supreme Court: Thousands of cases are appealed to the Court each Thousands of cases are appealed to the Court each

year.year. One hundred to 200 cases are selected for the One hundred to 200 cases are selected for the docketdocket.. Selected cases contain significant public interest or Selected cases contain significant public interest or

questions.questions. Four out of nine justices must vote to hear a case.Four out of nine justices must vote to hear a case. Previous verdicts stand for rejected cases.Previous verdicts stand for rejected cases.




Supreme Court justicesSupreme Court justices

Are appointed by the president and approved Are appointed by the president and approved by a Senate majority vote.by a Senate majority vote.

Are appointed for life but may be impeached.Are appointed for life but may be impeached.




Judicial review has strengthened the Judicial review has strengthened the Court’s power.Court’s power.

Courts decide if a law or presidential action is Courts decide if a law or presidential action is constitutional.constitutional.

Supreme Court has the ultimate power of Supreme Court has the ultimate power of judicial review.judicial review.




Congress can limit the Court’s power.Congress can limit the Court’s power.

Can rewrite laws to make them constitutionalCan rewrite laws to make them constitutional Can amend the Constitution to include new Can amend the Constitution to include new

lawslaws




Question: How has judicial review strengthened the Supreme Court’s power, and how does Congress limit this power?

SECTION 3

Judicial Review

Congress

Limit

Strengthen

It asserted the Court’s power to declare laws of

Congress and presidential acts unconstitutional.

Congress may pass a similar law abiding by

the Constitution or may try to amend the

Constitution.



Chapter 7 Wrap-Up

1. Describe the types of laws that exist in the United States.

2. What services do U.S. courts provide?3. Which cases are tried in federal courts?4. How is the federal court system organized?5. How are appointments made to the Supreme

Court, and how long do justices serve?6. How does the Supreme Court limit Congress’s

power, and how does Congress reassert it?

1. Describe the types of laws that exist in the United States.

2. What services do U.S. courts provide?3. Which cases are tried in federal courts?4. How is the federal court system organized?5. How are appointments made to the Supreme

Court, and how long do justices serve?6. How does the Supreme Court limit Congress’s

power, and how does Congress reassert it?

Documents

HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON1 CIVICS IN PRACTICE HOLT Chapter 7 The Judicial Branch Section 1:Equal Justice Under the Law Equal Justice Under the LawEqual