Changes

== Federal Judiciary ==

== Federal Judiciary ==

Article III of the U.S. Constitution establishes the United States Supreme Court and authorizes Congress to create lower federal courts as part of a national court system.  One of the first Acts passed by the new Congress in 1789, after the U.S. Constitution was ratified, was the Judiciary Act to create the federal court system.  President George Washington signed this bill, officially entitled "An Act to Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States," into law on September 24, 1789.<ref>http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/judiciary.html</ref>  This law also established the office of Attorney General in the Executive branch, within the Department of Justice, to enforce the federal laws in the federal court system.

Article III of the U.S. Constitution establishes the United States Supreme Court and authorizes Congress to create lower federal courts as part of a national court system.  One of the first Acts passed by the new Congress in 1789, after the U.S. Constitution was ratified, was the Judiciary Act to create the federal court system.  President George Washington signed this bill, officially entitled "An Act to Establish the Judicial Courts of the United States," into law on September 24, 1789.<ref>http://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/judiciary.html</ref>  This law also established the office of Attorney General in the Executive branch, within the Department of Justice, to enforce the federal laws in the federal court system.

A typical case begins at the local district court level, then goes on appeal to the Court of Appeals that supervises that district court.  After the Court of Appeals renders a decision, the losing party can petition the U.S. Supreme Court for its review of the decision.  The U.S. Supreme Court accepts only 1% of the requests for it to review case, and it renders about 75 decisions a year out of tens of thousands of decisions rendered by the other federal courts each year.

A typical case begins at the local district court level, then goes on appeal to the Court of Appeals that supervises that district court.  After the Court of Appeals renders a decision, the losing party can petition the U.S. Supreme Court for its review of the decision.  The U.S. Supreme Court accepts only 1% of the requests for it to review case, and it renders about 75 decisions a year out of tens of thousands of decisions rendered by the other federal courts each year.

Which cases do federal courts handle?  Most of the cases in federal court are there because they are based on rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes (including federal prosecutions of crimes).  Cases can also end  up in federal court if the amount in dispute is substantial (more than $75,000) and the controversy is between citizens of different states ("diversity jurisdiction").<ref>28 USC § 1332(a).</ref>  Most other cases, including the prosecution of most crimes ("criminal cases") and most disputes between individuals ("civil cases") are handled in state courts.

In federal court, the plaintiff must have legal "standing" or else the case will be dismissed.  Federal courts are courts of '''''limited jurisdiction''''', which means that a plaintiff must prove that his case belongs in federal court, or else it will be dismissed.

 

Valid reasons for suing in federal court include lawsuits based on rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution or federal statutes (including federal prosecutions of crimes).  Legal standing also exists in federal court if the amount in dispute is substantial (more than $75,000) and the controversy is between citizens of different states ("diversity jurisdiction").<ref>28 USC § 1332(a).</ref>  Most other cases, including the prosecution of most crimes ("criminal cases") and most disputes between individuals ("civil cases"), are handled in state courts.

=== U.S. Supreme Court ===

=== U.S. Supreme Court ===