2. Jurisdiction of the courts
Jurisdiction- the authority to hear a
certain case (which type of courts get to
try which cases).
State Courts
Each state has its own system of courts
Tries cases involving state laws
Federal Courts
Supreme Court
Lower federal courts
Tries cases involving federal laws
3. Federal Courts try cases
involving:
U.S. laws Ambassadors to foreign
countries
Treaties with foreign
countries Two or more states
Interpretation of the U.S. govt. office or
Constitution agency
Bankruptcy Citizens from different
states
Maritime law
4. Concurrent Jurisdiction
In some cases, both state and federal courts have
jurisdiction.
Ex: disputes between people from different states
can choose a state or federal court if it is over
$75,000.
5. Types of federal courts
Supreme Court-
final step
Appellate Court
(appeals)-
Appellate
Jurisdiction
Trial Court-
Original
Jurisdiction
6. Supreme Court Power
The court cannot go looking
for an issue
They must wait until
litigants (people filing a
lawsuit) come before them.
Courts cannot answer
questions about broad issues
They can only make
decisions on specific
individual cases.