1. If a resident of two different states had a legal dispute, would it be handled by a federal or a
state court?
- It would be a federal court
2. What is the difference between a court with original jurisdiction and one with appellate
jurisdiction.
- Original jurisdiction - hears the case for the first time
- Appellate jurisdiction - hears cases appealed from lower courts
3. Why is judicial review such an important power for the Supreme Court to have?
- In the absence of a written constitution, it provides an important check and balance.
4. For cases heard by the Supreme Court which do you think is the most important? The brief or
the oval argument?
- The oval
5. If a company files a civil suit against the Internal Revenue Service, which court would
most likely hear the case? Why?
- Cases involving the Internal Revenue Service and federal tax issues are heard by the U.S. Tax
Court, while cases involving state taxes are heard by state tax courts
The Constitution establishes the Supreme Court, while Congress creates inferior federal courts.
The U.S. has a dual-court system, with federal courts and state courts in each state. The
President nominates federal judges, who serve for life and can only be removed by
impeachment. The Supreme Court handles most federal cases, with each state having at least
one district court or federal trial court. The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit handles
appeals from district courts. The Court of International Trade hears civil cases involving trade-
related laws. Special courts, military courts, and the Court of Federal Claims ensure citizens'
rights and protect their rights. The Tax Court handles civil tax law cases, primarily generated by
the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury Department agencies.
