UNIT V
THE JUDICIAL BRANCH
AND
LEGAL SYSTEM
I. Laws
A. Types
1. Statutory Law
2. Common Law/Precedent
3. Administrative Law
4. Constitutional Law
B. The Need For Laws
1. Prevent Anarchy
2. Protects Freedoms
3. Protects Safety, Property
4. Represents Majority’s view of right & wrong
II. Function of Judicial Branch
A. Interpret laws
B. Settle Disputes
1. people vs. people
2. people vs. gov’t
3. people vs. business
4. business vs. gov’t
C. To Insure Equality under the Law
D. Punish Lawbreakers
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Equal_protection
III. Structure of Judicial Branch
A. Federal Courts Jurisdiction and Cases
1. Jurisdiction/Types of Cases
a. Disobeying the Constitution
b. Violating a Treaty of the U.S.
c. Breaking a law of Congress
d. Foreign Nation sues the U.S. Gov’t/citizen
e. U.S. Diplomats breaking foreign laws
f. Crimes committed on U.S. ships at sea
g. Crimes committed on Federal Property
h. Disagreement Between States
http://home.hiwaay.net/~becraft/FEDJurisdiction.html
2. Original Jurisdiction/Case Types
a. U.S. District Court
b. U.S. Claims Court
c. U.S. Custom Court
d. Territorial Court
e. Tax Court
f. U.S. Court of International Trade
Appellate Jurisdiction/Case Types
a. U.S. Supreme Court
b. U.S. Court of Appeals
c. Court of Military Appeals
d. Circuit Court of Appeals
B. State Courts
Jurisdiction & Cases
1. Original
Jurisdiction/Local/Case
Types
a. District Court/Trial
b. Superior Court/Trial
c. Traffic, Family,
Small Claims,
Juvenile
2. Appellate
Jurisdiction/Case Types
a. State Supreme Court
b. State Appeals Court
http://www.nccourts.org/
IV. Key Gov’t Officials
A. Supreme Court
Justices
1. 8 Associate Justices
& 1 Chief Justice
2. Appointed by
President
3. Approved by Senate
4. Serve for Life
5. Can be Impeached
for Wrongdoing
B. Qualifications
1. Lawyers
2. Judge on lower court
3. Share political belief of President
C. Federal Judges
1. Appointed by President
2. Approved by Senate
3. Appointed for life
4. Can be impeached for wrongdoing
http://www.fjc.gov/history/home.nsf
http://www.uscourts.gov/faq.html
D. District Court
1. District Court Judge
2. U.S. Marshal
3. U.S. Magistrate
4. U.S. Attorney
V. U.S. Supreme Court Cases
A. Marbury v. Madison/Judicial Review
B. Gibbons v. Ogden
C. Plessy v. Ferguson
D. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka
E. Miranda v. Arizona
F. Tinker v. Des Moines
G. Leandro Case 1997
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/
G. Roe v. Wade
H. Bakke v. California
I. Wallace v. Jaffree
J. Baker v. Carr
K. Mapp v. Ohio
L. New Jersey v. T.L.O.
M. Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeir
N. McCulloch v. Maryland
O. Gideon v. Wainwright
VI. Responsibility & Jurisdiction of
Law Enforcement
A. Jurisdiction
1. Federal – FBI, ATF, DEA, U.S.Marshals
2. State – SBI, State Troopers , Fish and Wildlife
3. Local – Sheriff, City Police
B. Responsibilities
1. Prevent Crime
2. Protect Life & Property
3. Arrest Violators of Law
4. Protect Rights of Suspects & Witnesses
5. Maintain Peace & Order
6. Traffic Control
C. Criminal Justice System
1. Police, courts, prison
D. Legal Process
1. Arrest
2. Booking
3. Preliminary Hearing
4. Indictment
5. Arraignment
6. Trial
7. Sentencing
8. Plea Bargaining
http://www.northharriscollege.com/Templates/Content.aspx?pid=
22660
VII Crimes
1. Crimes against persons
A. Murder
B. manslaughter
C. Aggravated Assault
2. Crimes against Property
A. Burglary
B. Larceny
C. Robbery
D. Vandalism
E. Arson
F. Victimless crimes. Drugs, gambling
3. White Collar Crimes
a. A. Embezzlement
b. B. Fraud
VIII. Punishment
1. Prison max, med, min, parole, probation
2. Fines, Restitution, Capital Punishment
3. House Arrest, Community Service