The Federal Courts

The great majority of America's judicial business is transacted in

• state courts of original jurisdiction.

• Tax Court.

• Supreme Courts.

• federal courts of original jurisdiction.

One of the differences between criminal law and civil law is that in civil law

• there is no charge that a law has been violated.

• there is no jury.

• the case cannot be appealed.

• the government cannot be one of the litigants.

Litigants are

• the attorneys.

• the plaintiff and the defendant.

• the plaintiff and the plaintiff's attorney.

• the defendant and the defendant's attorney.

Not everyone can challenge a law. Litigants must have what is called __________, meaning that they must have a serious personal stake in the case, typically determined by whether or not they have sustained or are in danger of an injury.

• standing to sue.

• a writ of mandamus.

• stare decisis.

• legal prerogative.

Courts may only decide __________ disputes.

• civil

• constitutional

• justiciable

• criminal

Class action suits

• permit a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated.

• are cases in which the government sues on behalf of groups of people unable to go to court for a variety of reasons.

• are civil suits brought to the courts by interest groups.

• are civil or criminal cases involving discrimination on the basis of income.

The Constitution specifically provided that there would be a Supreme Court

• and established a system of lower federal courts throughout the nation.

• but left it up to the individual states to establish lower federal courts of general jurisdiction.

• but left it up to the discretion of Congress to establish lower federal courts of general jurisdiction.

• and granted the President the power to establish any lower federal courts he deemed necessary.

Lower federal courts of general jurisdiction were established by

• President George Washington.

• the Judiciary Act of 1789.

• the Eleventh Amendment.

• the Constitution.

Courts with __________ hear cases brought to them on appeal from a lower court.

• original jurisdiction.

• judicial review.

• justiciable disputes.

• appellate jurisdiction.

A legislative court is

• a state-level court.

• the initial level of federal courts for most disputes.

• staffed by judges who lack the protections against removal or salary reductions while in office.

• staffed by judges who serve for life.