Changes

'''Federal court''' is a system of trial and appellate courts that resolves issues arising under the [[U.S. Constitution]], [[federal]] statutes, and disputes between different states and, where the controversy exceeds $75,000, citizens of different states.

'''Federal court''' is a system of trial and appellate courts that resolves issues arising under the [[U.S. Constitution]], [[federal]] statutes, and disputes between different states and, where the controversy exceeds $75,000, citizens of different states.

The 14th Amendment imposed new and vague limits on state sovereignty,

The 14th Amendment imposed new and vague limits on state sovereignty, and gave Congress broad power to implement those limits. Congress exercised that power by, among other things, vastly expanding the jurisdiction of the federal courts.

and gave Congress broad power to implement those limits. Congress

exercised that power by, among other things, vastly expanding the

jurisdiction of the federal courts.

Between 1789, when the federal court system was first established by [[Congress]], and about 1870 this system lacked the power to hear cases arising under the [[U.S. Constitution]] and laws passed by [[Congress]]. Instead, state courts handled those disputes in addition to all other intrastate disputes. Only around 1870 did [[Congress]] give "federal question" jurisdiction to the federal courts and begin to allow lawsuits in federal court against state and local government officials to recover money for alleged deprivation of federal rights.

Between 1789, when the federal court system was first established by [[Congress]], and about 1870 this system lacked the power to hear cases arising under the [[U.S. Constitution]] and laws passed by [[Congress]]. Instead, state courts handled those disputes in addition to all other intrastate disputes. Only around 1870 did [[Congress]] give "federal question" jurisdiction to the federal courts and begin to allow lawsuits in federal court against state and local government officials to recover money for alleged deprivation of federal rights.

In 1976, a new [[conservative]] majority, including four Justices appointed by President [[Richard Nixon]] issued a 5-4 decision limiting federal power in favor of state sovereignty.<ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0426_0833_ZS.html</ref>

In 1976, a new [[conservative]] majority, including four Justices appointed by President [[Richard Nixon]] issued a 5-4 decision limiting federal power in favor of state sovereignty.<ref>http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0426_0833_ZS.html</ref>

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0469_0528_ZS.html</ref>

http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/historics/USSC_CR_0469_0528_ZS.html</ref>

Justice Rehnquist was right. After he became Chief Justice, in the late 1990s a series of 5-4 decisions reestablished limits on federal power in favor of state sovereignty.

Justice Rehnquist was right. After he became Chief Justice, in the late 1990s a series of 5-4 decisions reestablished limits on federal power in favor of state sovereignty.

== Sources ==

==Notes==

* [http://www.fjc.gov/ Federal Judicial Center]

* [http://www.fjc.gov/ Federal Judicial Center]

[[category:law]]

[[category:law]]