Powers of the Federal
Courts
• Introduction
– What is the purpose of the Court
system?
• To balance the power of the other two
branches.
– Who is Chief Justice John Marshall?
• His decisions broadened the powers of the
federal courts
• Jurisdiction of the courts.
– Questions
• What does jurisdiction mean?
• Where do state courts get their
power?
• Where do federal courts get their
power?
– Dual court system
• State courts have jurisdiction over
cases involving state laws.
Powers of the Federal
Courts
– Dual court system
• Federal courts have jurisdiction over
cases involving federal laws.
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United States laws
Treaties with foreign nations
Interpretations of the Constitution
Bankruptcy
Admiralty or maritime law.
Ambassadors or representatives of
foreign governments
Two or more state governments
The U.S. government or one of its offices
or agencies.
Citizens who are residents of different
states.
Citizens who are residents of the same
state but claim land grants in different
states.
Powers of the Federal
Courts
– Concurrent Jurisdiction –
• Definition - concurrent jurisdiction
exists when both federal & state
courts have jurisdiction
– Example – in a case involving citizens of
a different state in a dispute of more than
$75000.00
– Original Jurisdiction the court in
which the case is originally tried is
original jurisdiction
– Appellate Jurisdiction
• The court to which an individual
appeals a decision has appellate
jurisdiction.
• Due Process Clause –
– Found in the 14th Amendment.
Page 792
– No state may deprive any
person of life, liberty, or
property without due process
of law.
• It extended the protections under
the “Bill of Rights”
• It protects citizens from unjust
punishment by the state or
federal government.
• Developing Supreme Court
Power
– Precedents –
• something that serves as a rule or an
example to justify a future act.
• The Supreme Court or no Federal
court may initiate action
• No judge or justice may seek an issue
to bring to court.
• Courts must wait for litigants to
engage in a lawful suit.
• Federal courts only determine cases.
• Landmark cases
– Marbury v. Madison –secured the power
of judicial review.
– Fletcher v. Peck – establish the principle
that a state could not interefere with or
impair the value of lawful contract rights.
– Dartmouth College v. Woodard – the
protection of contracts to corporate
charters.
• Developing Supreme Court
Power
– Landmark cases pgs. 307-310
• Marbury v. Madison –secured the
power of judicial review.
• Fletcher v. Peck – establish the
principle that a state could not
interfere with or impair the value of
lawful contract rights.
• Dartmouth College v. Woodard – the
protection of contracts to corporate
charters.
• McCulloch v. Maryland – states could
not hamper the exercise of legitimate
national interests.
• Gibbons v. Ogden – the courts
broadened the meaning of interstate
commerce thereby extending federal
authority.
• Developing Supreme Court
Power
– Landmark cases pgs. 307-310
• Slaughterhouse Cases – ruled that
the 14th Amendment did not increase
rights but protected rights.
• Plessy v. Ferguson – established the
“separate but equal doctrine.”
• Brown v. Board of education of
Topeka, Kansas –the court outlawed
segregation in public schools
ultimately reversing Plessy v.
Ferguson
Lower Federal Courts
• There are two kinds of federal
courts.
– Established under Article III of the
Constitution
– Constitutional federal courts.
• Federal District Courts
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Serve as trial courts
They serve state districts
There are 94 districts in the U.S.
They are the trial courts for civil &
criminal federal cases.
– They use two types of juries in criminal
cases.
» Grand Jury consisting of 16-23 people
hears charges against a person
suspected of a crime.
» It issues an indictment – a formal
accusation, if it believes that there is
sufficient evidence to bring a person
to trial.
– Constitutional federal courts.
• Federal District Courts
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Serve as trial courts
They serve state districts
There are 94 districts in the U.S.
They are the trial courts for civil &
criminal federal cases.
– They use two types of juries in criminal
cases.
» Grand Jury consisting of 16-23 people
hears charges against a person
suspected of a crime.
» If the jury believes that there is
insufficient evidence the charges are
dropped.
» It issues an indictment – a formal
accusation, if it believes that there is
sufficient evidence to bring a person
to trial.
» A petit jury is established to weight
the evidence presented at the trial. It
is the trial jury that renders the
ultimate verdict.
» A petit jury consisting of 6-12 people
is the trial jury.
Lower Federal Courts
• There are two kinds of federal courts.
– Established under Article III of the
Constitution
– Constitutional federal courts.
• Federal District Courts
– Serve as trial courts
– They serve state districts
– There are 94 districts in the U.S.
• Federal Courts of Appeals
– Legislative federal courts
– Precedents
• Landmark cases
– Gibbons v. Ogden – The court broaden the
meaning of interstate commerce.
– Dred Scott v. Sanford
– Slaughterhouse cases
– Plessy v. Ferguson