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● Articles
of Confederation
● Constitution
● Legislative
Branch
● Executive
Branch
● Judicial
Branch
● Checks and Balances
● Bill
of Rights
● Political Parties
Judicial Branch
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The Supreme Court of the U.S.
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 The
judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court, which is the only
court specifically created by the Constitution. In addition, the
Congress has established 11 federal courts of appeal
and, below them, 91 federal district courts. Federal judges are
appointed for life or voluntary retirement, and
can only be removed
from
office through the process of impeachment
and
trial in the Congress.
Federal
courts have jurisdiction
over
cases arising out of the Constitution; laws and treaties
of the United States; maritime
cases; issues involving foreign citizens or governments; and cases
in which the federal government itself is a party. Ordinarily, federal
courts do not hear cases arising out of the laws of individual states.
The
Supreme Court today consists of a chief
justice and eight associate
justices. With minor exceptions, all its cases reach
the Court on appeal from lower federal or state courts. Most of
these cases involved disputes over the interpretation of laws and
legislation. In
this capacity,
the
Court's most important function consists of determining whether
congressional legislation or executive action violates the Constitution.
This
power of judicial review
is
not specifically provided for by the Constitution; rather, it is
the Court's interpretation of its Constitutional Role as established
in the landmark
Marbury
v. Madison case of 1803.
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