1. The Judicial Branch  Article III – Outlines the Judicial Branch  Highest court in the country  Last resort

2. Dual Court System  Two court system – State and Federal  Supreme Court has final authority over both State Courts have jurisdiction over state laws Federal Courts have jurisdiction over federal laws

3. District Courts and Circuit Courts District Courts federal trials District Courts federal trials Circuit Courts Appeals Circuit Courts Appeals

4. Jurisdiction  The authority to hear a case What determines jurisdiction?  Subject matter  US laws, treaties, interpretation of the Constitution  Parties involved  Ambassadors, two or more state governments

5. HOW THE SUPREME COURT WORKS

6. Chief Justice John Roberts, Elena Kagan, Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Ruth Bader Ginsberg, Sonja Sotomayor Who Are They

7. The Judicial Branch What is the function? What is not the function?  “The judiciary…has no influence over either the sword or the purse; It may truly be said to have neither force nor will, but merely judgment”  Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 78

8. Read the packet using the “close reading” strategy How does the Supreme Court work? Specifics How does a case get there Read the packet using the “close reading” strategy How does the Supreme Court work? Specifics How does a case get there Inside the Marble Temple