Chapter 5

How our federal court system operates

What you need to learn


Understand the structure of the U.S. federal court system, its power, where it gets its power, and how it uses its power.

Need to Know:

jurisdiction

original

appellate

Judiciary Act of 1789

court of appeals

district court

judicial review

Federalist No. 78:

What was Hamilton’s argument for the powers of the judiciary, and his response to the concern about the power & lifetime appointment

Cases:

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

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