preview

The Supreme Court System Of The United States

Decent Essays

From the origins of the United States as written in the U.S. Constitution, was framed a national system of government with 3 distinct branches: the judiciary, executive and legislative. The legislative branch makes the laws by statute. The judiciary interprets the law and the highest judiciary, the U.S. Supreme Court, is the preeminent and final elucidator of the law. The judiciary encompasses the federal court system, where the U.S. Supreme Court stands at the very top of the judiciary hierarchy.

Congress was empowered to create lower federal courts, and they have done so, creating 2 distinct judicial layers below the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. district courts and the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals. Congress also determines the number …show more content…

legal system, in lower courts, where they can utilize case law, also referred to as common law, where the precedent applies. This is known as the principle of stare decisis.

The U.S. Supreme Court renders judgments that can affect only the individuals involved in the particular case, or it can affect the rights and/or lives of all Americans. In the latter case, this gives the Supreme Court the role of policy maker.

The Federal Court System

The U.S. judiciary derives its power and specific role as specified in the U.S. Constitution. Only certain types of disputes can be heard and adjudicated by the federal courts.
Roles of the federal courts:
• Issues regarding federal law
• Acts of legislative bodies
• Interpreting the constitution
• International treaties
• Controversies between states
This includes ensuring that federal agencies and entities that are authorized to implement rules and regulations, do so within the bounds of U.S. law. In addition, higher courts decisions, and precedents, hold sway over lower courts and state courts as well. Though the states are not permitted to adjudicate in the areas reserved for the federal courts. The states cannot enter into treaties with foreign governments, for example. But there are areas in American law that do overlap between federal and state court systems.

U.S. Supreme Court

Article III of the U.S. Constitution created the Supreme Court, now comprised of 9 justices in total that are appointed by the

Get Access