Chapter 2: Organization and Functions of the American Court System
- Page ID
- 126625
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- Understand the US court system and how it affects the conduct of businesses.
- Understand the three branches of government and how they check and balance each other’s powers.
- Describe the dual court system and its three tiers.
- Explain how you are protected and governed by different U.S. court systems.
- Know which kinds of cases must be heard in federal courts only.
- Explain diversity of citizenship jurisdiction and be able to decide whether a case is eligible for diversity jurisdiction in the federal courts.
- Distinguish between trial and appellate courts.
Chapter Outline
- 2.1: Introduction
- This page outlines the interconnectedness of law and government in the US, emphasizing the Constitution's role in defining government powers. It details how laws arise from Congress and state legislatures, with courts responsible for interpretation. Effective enforcement encourages companies to balance legal and financial needs. Despite federal judges' lifetime appointments shielding them from direct business pressure, companies can still influence judicial outcomes through lobbying.
- 2.2: The Courts and Separation of Powers
- This page outlines the US Constitution's establishment of three government branches: legislative, executive, and judicial, with Article III defining the judiciary's structure and federal judges' requirements. It highlights the landmark case Marbury v. Madison (1803), which marks the first declaration of a congressional act as unconstitutional, establishing judicial review.
- 2.3: The Dual Court System and Judicial Federalism
- This page outlines the complexities of the U.S. legal system, highlighting federalism and the dual court system comprising state and federal courts. It discusses subject matter jurisdiction and illustrates these principles with the case of Miranda v. Arizona, which established crucial rights for criminal suspects. Additionally, the page touches on the inconsistencies between state laws, particularly regarding drug regulations.
- 2.4: Trial and Appellate Court Functions
- This page outlines the structure and functions of federal and state court systems, detailing trial and appellate courts. Trial courts, which include federal district courts and various state courts, deal with evidence and case outcomes, involving juries or judges. Intermediate appellate courts review decisions without juries, focusing on legal questions. Courts of last resort, such as the US Supreme Court, manage discretionary appeals and choose cases for review.
- 2.5: Concluding Thoughts
- This page outlines the US Constitution's establishment of three government branches designed to check each other's powers and prevent authoritarianism. It highlights the Judicial Branch's authority of judicial review from Marbury v. Madison, its checks by the President and Congress, and the existence of fifty-six legal systems in the US, where subject matter jurisdiction helps determine whether a case is heard in state or federal court based on the dispute's nature.