Federal Courts

1080 Words5 Pages
Understanding our legal system through the different roles given to our Federal courts and State courts. There are three equal branches of government: executive branch, legislative branch and the judicial branch. Federal and state courts are part of the judicial branch of government. It is the job of the judicial branch to apply and interpret the law and mediate any issues that occur under them. Neither branch federal nor state can oversee functions reserved for the other branches. Both federal and state may exercise only judicial powers and perform only judicial functions, also judges may only decide on cases seen by them. Federal courts can decide cases involving the U.S government, conflicts between states or between the U.S and foreign government or disputes under federal law. The case has to raise a federal question in order to be heard in federal court. Powers given to U.S Congress Article 1,…show more content…
State courts have power in two jurisdictions. 1. Special Jurisdiction: hear juvenile cases, lesser civil and criminal cases and traffic related cases. 2. General jurisdiction: hear serious civil and criminal cases. They general operate from the lowest court with a Justice of the peace up to a state supreme court. Each state has its own legal system loosely based off of our federal system. Each state has their own state constitution. A state constitution is interpreted separately from, yet in line with our federal constitution. Every state has their own statutes. Just as in Federal courts every state has its own system with appellate courts and trial courts. Precedents are derived and set from the proceedings in these courts. Also they have their own administrative and executive agencies that make rules and regulations the citizens of that state must abide
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