Courts

Running Head : U .S Court Systems

U .S Court : Different Court Systems

[name]

[Name of School]

In partial fulfillment of the requirements for [subject]

[Instructor 's Name]

September 11 , 2007

I . Abstract

This work contains some minute explanations concerning the types of courts which are in existence in the United states as of the present , as well as some detailed explanation concerning the distinctions and scope of power of the said courts

II . Introduction

The Government of the United States is composed of three major branches

the Executive , Legislative , and Judicial Branch . The Judicial department is responsible for the interpretation of the laws created by the legislative department . Its responsibility as a whole is to act as an arbiter , to oversee that the three branches of the Government are not committing any grave abuse of discretion in exercising their respective powers within the limits defined by the U .S . constitution . It is of tantamount importance that the fragile balance be kept between these three branches of government , otherwise there would not be any clear delineation of powers , causing chaos to eventually ensue in the system

The intent of the framers of the U .S . constitution is for the power to reside not in the government itself but in the hands of its citizenry this intention led to the adoption of Federalism by the Judiciary Federalism , is a structure created by the U .S Constitution to enable the sharing of powers between the federal government and the state governments of each of the 50 states . Under the concept of federalism there are two types of court systems - federal and state . The Federal and The State court systems are responsible for hearing certain types of cases , it should be noted that these two systems although different and considered separate are not two systems often converge , especially since solving legal disputes and vindicating legal rights are both objectives of the two court systems

Federal courts have jurisdiction over issues mentioned or implied in the Constitution . These courts are referred to as the guardians of the Constitution . because the rulings it promulgates is essentially based on the protection of rights and liberties which are guaranteed by the U .S . Constitution . The said system enables a more active participation of its citizens in promulgating decisions by allowing them the liberty of becoming jurors and witnesses in court hearings , as well as allowing them the option to work as court system employees . The state courts , on the other hand have jurisdiction over matters not mentioned in the Constitution and those not specifically denied to the states by the Constitution . Both civil and criminal cases are heard and tried by these two federal courts system

III . U .S . Major Court Systems

Supreme Court

Under the Federal and State court systems , there are two subsidiary courts namely trial courts and appellate courts . Trial courts , also called U .S . District Courts , are courts of original jurisdiction . They are the first courts to hear either a civil or criminal case...