Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Judicial Question 5

Identify and describe the three levels of the federal court system. What cases do each have jurisdiction over? In what cases does the Supreme Court have original jurisdiction?

1 comment:

  1. The three levels of Federal courts are district courts, Court of Appeals, and then the Supreme courts.
    The district courts are the courts which have majority of the original jurisdiction, where they hear the facts at hand. Jurisdiction for district courts covers the federal government as a party, federal question, constutional issues, treaty with other nations, or a federal statute civil suits in which parties are from different states and the money is over $75,000.

    The Appellate courts decide the cases again but the facts are not presented again. The jurisdiction of these courts relies on the geographic location. Each Appellate court has a geographic territory that it covers in order to hear pleas of appeals. The D.C. court for appeals covers with federal regulatory commissions and agencies, the Federal Circuit Court covers patents, contracts, and finical cases against the government.

    The Supreme courts review decisions of lower courts and the Supreme Court of the United States, acts as the final interpreter of the Constitution. The Supreme Court decides cases of tremendous policy significance, ensure uniformity of interpretation for national laws and the Constution, resolves conflicts between states, and maintains the supremacy of national laws in the court system. The original jurisdiction lies with the Supreme Court when the case involves other nations, as well as any case that involves the government as a party.

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