The Judicial Branch - Interpreting the Laws
The Judicial Branch consists of the Federal Court System. Their responsibility is to interpret the laws made by Congress.There are two general types of law in America, Procedural Law and Substantive Law.
Procedural Law - This is not what people usually think about as "law", since it defines the rules and procedures for the courts. There are different procedural laws for both civil and criminal cases.
Substantive Law - This type of law defines what rights citizens have, and decides what wrongful acts amount to violations of these rights. Substantive Law can be further defined into Criminal Law (when a written law is broken), contract law (when a signed agreement when two parties is breached), and Tort Law (a civil case involving two or more parties that is not a breach in contract, but rather in a written law).
Procedural Law - This is not what people usually think about as "law", since it defines the rules and procedures for the courts. There are different procedural laws for both civil and criminal cases.
Substantive Law - This type of law defines what rights citizens have, and decides what wrongful acts amount to violations of these rights. Substantive Law can be further defined into Criminal Law (when a written law is broken), contract law (when a signed agreement when two parties is breached), and Tort Law (a civil case involving two or more parties that is not a breach in contract, but rather in a written law).
Three Tiers of Federal Courts
Supreme Court
- Highest court in the nation
- Consists of nine judges who meet in Washington D.C.
- Only hear approx 80 cases each year out of the 8000 presented to them
Courts of Appeal
- Intermediate level in the Federal System
- 13 courts total, do not hold trials and each case has a panel of judges
- Do not hear any original jurisdiction, only appellate cases
District Courts
- Lowest level in the Federal System
- 94 courts total, at least one in each state
- Only original jurisdiction
Types of Court Cases
|
Cases Tried in Federal Courts
|
Famous Cases of The Supreme Court
Below are a few of the most famous Supreme Court Cases, including what impact the decision of the court made.
Plessy vs Ferguson (1896) - Founded the idea of "separate but equal" which limited the rights of African Americans by ruling that there can be separate schools, public restrooms, water fountains, etc, for minorities, however they must be equal. This turned out to be virtually impossible.
Roe vs Wade (1973) - Involving a women from Texas, this court case decided that states may not make abortion illegal. This is still a very controversial case decision today.
Gideon vs Wainwright (1963) - Decision made to provide defendants with free legal counsel in the case that they cannot afford a lawyer.
Miranda vs Arizona (1966) - The reason for each police officer reciting the "Miranda Rights" when arresting someone. Criminals must be informed of their rights when arrested.
Plessy vs Ferguson (1896) - Founded the idea of "separate but equal" which limited the rights of African Americans by ruling that there can be separate schools, public restrooms, water fountains, etc, for minorities, however they must be equal. This turned out to be virtually impossible.
Roe vs Wade (1973) - Involving a women from Texas, this court case decided that states may not make abortion illegal. This is still a very controversial case decision today.
Gideon vs Wainwright (1963) - Decision made to provide defendants with free legal counsel in the case that they cannot afford a lawyer.
Miranda vs Arizona (1966) - The reason for each police officer reciting the "Miranda Rights" when arresting someone. Criminals must be informed of their rights when arrested.