CIVICS IN PRACTICE
HOLT
Chapter 7
The Judicial Branch
Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Section 2: The Federal Court System
Section 3: The Supreme Court
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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
Majority rule affects the making 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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Criminal and Civil Law
 Criminal Law – the group of laws that define
what acts are crimes.
 Crime – any behavior that is illegal because
society, through its government, considers the
behavior harmful to society
 Civil Law – the group of laws that refer to
disputes between people.
 Tort – civil wrong committed by one person
against another
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Four types of U.S. laws:
 Statutory law—passed by lawmaking bodies
 Common law—judges’ decisions based on
common sense, experience, and practice
 Administrative law—created by government
agencies
 Constitutional law—based on the Constitution
and its interpretation by the Court
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Section 1: Equal Justice Under the Law
Role of the Courts in the United States
 Use law to settle disputes
 Assure equal justice for all through fair trials
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
SECTION 1
HOLT
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
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Section 2: The Federal Court System
The Main Idea
The federal court system consists of the three levels of
courts, each of which has specific duties.
Reading Focus
 What is the purpose of the U.S. district courts?
 How are the U.S. courts of appeals different from the
district courts?
 What is the role of the Supreme Court?
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Section 2: The Federal Court System
Organization of Federal Courts
 Ninety-four district courts—at base of system;
jury trials held here
 Courts of Appeal—review district court cases; 12
courts of appeal cover circuits; panels of judges
make the decisions
 U.S. Supreme Court—highest court in the land;
an appeals court; decisions are final
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Section 2: The Federal Court System
Cases tried in the federal courts:
 Cases involving people charged with
disobeying the Constitution, violating a U.S.
treaty, or breaking laws passed by Congress
 Charges brought by a foreign country against
the United States or its citizens
 Crimes committed on U.S. ships at sea
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Section 2: The Federal Court System
Cases tried in the federal courts: (continued)
 Ambassadors and consuls charged with
breaking laws in a foreign country
 Crimes committed on certain federal
properties
 Disagreements between the states
 Lawsuits between citizens of different states
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Section 2: The Federal Court System
Role of the Supreme Court
 Reviews cases from lower federal courts and
state courts
 Constitutional jurisdiction over:
 cases involving diplomatic representatives from
other countries
 disputes between states
 disputes between states and federal government
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
SECTION 2
HOLT
Question: Which cases are tried in federal
courts?
Federal Court Cases
1. constitutional violations
2. U.S. treaty violations
3. congressional law violations
4. cases between a foreign government and a U.S. citizen or the
government
5. crimes committed on U.S. ships at sea
6. cases involving U.S. ambassadors and consuls who broke laws in
their stationed countries
7. crimes committed on certain types of federal property
8. disagreements between states or citizens of different states
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Section 3: The Supreme Court
The Main Idea
The Supreme Court hears appeals, reviews laws, and
strongly influences American society.
Reading Focus
 What is the power of the judicial review?
 What are the constitutional checks on the Supreme
Court’s powers?
 How has the Supreme Court strengthened
constitutional rights?
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Section 3: The Supreme Court
Process through which cases are tried
in the Supreme Court:
 Thousands of cases are appealed to the Court each
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year.
One hundred to 200 cases are selected for the docket.
Selected cases contain significant public interest or
questions.
Four out of nine justices must vote to hear a case.
Previous verdicts stand for rejected cases.
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Section 3: The Supreme Court
Judicial review has strengthened the
Court’s power.
 Courts decide if a law or presidential action is
constitutional.
 Supreme Court has the ultimate power of
judicial review.
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Section 3: The Supreme Court
Congress can limit the Court’s power.
 Can rewrite laws to make them constitutional
 Can amend the Constitution to include new
laws
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SECTION 3
CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Question: How has judicial review strengthened
the Supreme Court’s power, and how does
Congress limit this power?
Limit
Judicial
Review
Strengthen
It asserted the Court’s
power to declare laws of
Congress and
presidential acts
unconstitutional.
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Congress may pass a
similar law abiding by
the Constitution or may
try to amend the
Constitution.
Congress
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CIVICS IN PRACTICE
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Chapter 7 Wrap-Up
1. Describe the types of laws that exist in the
United States.
2. What services do U.S. courts provide?
3. Which cases are tried in federal courts?
4. How is the federal court system organized?
5. How are appointments made to the Supreme
Court, and how long do justices serve?
6. How does the Supreme Court limit Congress’s
power, and how does Congress reassert it?
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