Chapter 7
The Judicial Branch
Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Section 2: The Federal Court System
Section 3: The Supreme Court
Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
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?
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
A Nation of Laws
 Laws usually reflect the opinion of the
majority.
 Laws are passed for the good of all citizens.
 Good citizenship involves abiding by the
laws.
 Without laws, anarchy could develop.
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Two Basic Categories of Laws
 Criminal Law refers to the group of laws that
define what acts are crimes.
 Criminal laws are intended to protect society as a
whole
 Laws against assault, murder, and rape help
protect against personal harm.
 Laws against stealing help protect your property
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Two Basic Categories of Laws:
 Civil Law is the group of laws that refer to
disputes between people.
 Used to settle a wide ranged of personal issues,
such as contract disputes, divorce proceedings,
and property boundaries
 Crime – any behavior that is illegal because
society considers the behavior harmful to
society
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Section 1: Equal Justice under the Law
 Think about it…
 What freedoms do we enjoy as active American
citizens?
 How does a nation’s laws protect these freedoms?
 How does a nation’s laws limit these freedom?
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Four types of U.S. laws:
 Statutory law—passed by lawmaking bodies
 Also known as stuatues
 Passed by Congress: Federal, State, and Local
 Can be Criminal or Civil Law
 Usually represents what the majority of the
citizens want
 Can be adapt to meet the courty’s needs
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Four types of U.S. laws:
 Common Law: a type of law that comes from
judges’ decisions based on common sense,
experience, and practice
 Precedent: An earlier court decision that guides
judges’ decisions in later cases
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Four types of U.S. laws:
 Administrative law—created by government
agencies
 Example: the Consumer Product Safety
Commision (CPSC) uses administrative law when
it rules that a particular toy is unsafe and must be
taken off the market
 Constitutional law—based on the Constitution
and its interpretation by the Supreme Court
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Think about it…
 List and describe the sources of law that exist
in the United States.
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Sectiocn 1:Equal Justice Under the Law
Role of the Courts in the United States
 Courts use the four sources of law to settle
disputes
 Assure equal justice for all through fair trials
 Right of the Accused (Bill of Rights)
 Gideon vs. Wainwright (1963): states are required
to provide free legal aid to those defendants who
cannot afford to pay for a lawyer
 Appeal: The right of a convicted person to ask a
higher court to review his or her case.
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Sectiocn 1:Equal Justice Under the Law
Think about it…
 Why do you think the accused is considered
innocent until proved guilty?
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SECTION 1
Question: What roles do the courts play in
the United States?
The Roles that Courts Play
provide fair
public trials
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ensure equal
justice for all