1. Judicial Branch
Number 1- 15

2. The Judicial Branch
Question #1-
The Judicial Branch was established
in which article of the Constitution?

3. Federalism once again
• Just like there’s an executive branch in the
national government and in PA., and just like
there’s Congress in Washington and the
General Assembly in (2)_____________
there are also two court systems, one state
system and the federal system.

4. PA. State Court System
• PA’s court system is similar to the federal
system in that the State Supreme Court sits at
the top. But the lower courts have different
names and different jurisdiction.

6. One big difference
• In PA. judges run for election like politicians
whereas in the federal system the judges are
selected by the president and then voted up
or down by the U.S. (3)_____________. If they
are approved they get a lifetime term (unless
they are impeached and convicted).

7. The Federal Court System
• Pyramid Power!-The
federal and state court
systems are like a pyramid
with a top down
structure. There are two
types of federal courts-
special or legislative
courts and constitutional
courts.
• We will look at the
constitutional courts.

8. District Courts
• At the bottom of the
pyramid are 91 district
courts with 632 justices.
They handle 80% of the
federal caseload. They
handle criminal and civil
cases.
• PA has three district
courts with the closest in
Philadelphia.

9. Circuit or Appeals Courts
• Above the district courts
are the appeals courts.
They were created by
Congress in 1891. They
are the “gatekeepers” to
the Supreme Court. There
are 12 Appellate Courts,
they only hear a case on
appeal from lower courts.

10. Federal Court System

11. The (4)____________ Court
• At the top of the
pyramid is the
(4)__________Court.
It is the high court and
has nine justices.
• Justice Roberts sits in
the middle because he
is the Chief Justice.

12. They meet in this building

13. Notice the Greco-Roman look
• The architecture is designed to emulate the
Romans who were respected for their system
of laws.

14. The Supreme Court
• This building is in what
city? (5) _____
• How many justices are
on the Supreme
Court? (6)_________

15. Most cases are heard on appeal
• The Supreme Court
takes very few cases
each year, about 100
out of 5,000-6,000
petitions.
• This is Clarence
Thomas. He does not
say much.

16. Why so few cases ask inquiring
minds?
• They will only take a case
that is compelling and has
not been sufficiently
addressed by the lower
courts.
• Name one of the
two lower federal
courts(7)_____________
• This is Ruth Bader
Ginsberg.

17. Granting Cert
• The Supreme Court
will hear a case if it
grants a writ of
certiorari. That means
that four of the nine
justices have agreed
to hear the case.
• Justice Stephen Breyer

18. The Court Calendar
• The Supreme Court
recesses for the
summer. It
reconvenes the first
Monday in October. It
hears cases three days
a week, 5 hours a day.
• Antonin Scalia goes
duck hunting with the
ex-veep. He’s brave.

19. The hearing
• The petitioner’s lawyer
gets one half an hour as
does the respondent’s.
The justices will
interrupt for questions.
In the spring they will
render their decision.
• Justice Sonia Sotomayor
at her confirmation
hearing.

20. Decisions are read first by the
majority
• The court likes to have
9-0 decisions because
it means the case has
been clearly decided.
A 5-4 opinion means it
was contentious. The
minority would be the
dissenters. He is the
3rd newest justice-
Samuel Alito.

21. The ultimate power
• The Supreme Courts
power to declare a law
unconstitutional is not
written anywhere in the
constitution. It came
about as a result of an
1803 case called Marbury
v.(8)__________.
• John Roberts-the Chief
Justice appointed by
George Bush.

22. Other Cases
• The Supreme Court
will also hear cases
involving states suing
states, federal officials
and American citizens
suing foreign nations.
• This is the newest
justice, Elena Kagan.
She was appointed by
President Obama.

23. The Conference
• Between hearing the case and rendering their
opinion the justices consider their decision.
They and their clerks research and the justices
lobby one another. They meet weekly to
consider the cases presented that week.
Sometimes they can dispose of a case quickly
(9-0) or sometimes things get heated (5-4).

24. The highest court in the land
• On the top floor of the
court is a basketball
court. The younger
clerks play here.

25. Question #9
• True or false-The power to declare federal and
state laws unconstitutional is written in Article
3.

26. Question 10
• Yes or No-Does each state have their own
court system separate from the national
system?

27. Question #11
• How many justices of the federal Supreme
Court have to agree to hear a case ?

28. Question #12
• Once on the federal bench how long a term
does a justice get?
• A. lifetime
• B. faces election every ten years
• C. unlimited terms
• D. Is popularly elected the first time, then
faces retention every four years

29. 13-In what building does the
Supreme Court meet?
B
A

30. 14-Who below is not a justice of the
Supreme Court?
A
B
B
B

31. Question 15
• 15. In the case Tinker v. DesMoines Public
Schools (1969) which party is the petitioner?