2 Chapter

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A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Section 2.1
A Dual Court System

Section 2.2
Trial Procedures
2
Chapter
The Court System
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
What Youll Learn
How to determine a courts jurisdiction
(pp. 28-31)

How to explain the structure of the
federal court system (p. 28)
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
What Youll Learn
How to explain the role of the United
States Supreme Court (p. 30)

How to explain the structure of the state
court system (p. 30)
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
What Youll Learn
How to describe the difference between a
juvenile who is unruly and one who is
delinquent (p. 31)
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Why Its Important
Learning the structure of the court systems
in the United States will help you
understand how the legal system works.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Legal Terms
jurisdiction (p. 28)
diversity of citizenship (p.28)
original jurisdiction (p. 28)
appellate courts (p. 29)
intermediate courts (p. 29)
appellate jurisdiction (p. 29)
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Legal Terms
limited jurisdiction (p. 30)
general jurisdiction (p. 31)
delinquent child (p. 31)
unruly child (p. 31)
neglected or abused child (p. 32)
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
District Courts
Courts of Appeals
Special U.S. Courts
Supreme Court
Section Outline
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
State Court Systems
Local Trial Courts
General Trial Courts
Special Courts
Intermediate Appellate Courts
Supreme Courts
Section Outline
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Pre-Learning Question
Over which types of cases does the
federal court system have jurisdiction?
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
Federal courts hear cases involving
federal matters
matters involving diversity of
citizenship
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
Jurisdiction is the power and
authority given to a court to hear a
case and to make a judgment.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
Federal courts have jurisdiction over:
actions in which the United States
or one state is a party, except those
actions between a state and its
citizens
cases that raise a federal question,
such as interpreting the Constitution
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
Federal courts have jurisdiction over:
diversity of citizenship cases,
which involve citizens of different
states and in which the amount of
money in dispute exceeds $75,000
admiralty cases, or those pertaining
to the sea
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
Federal courts have jurisdiction over:
patent and copyright cases
bankruptcy cases
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
The Federal Court System
Federal courts are arranged in three
steps, or tiers:
U.S district courts
U.S. courts of appeals
the Supreme Court
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
District Courts
District courts have original
jurisdiction over most federal court
cases.
Original jurisdiction means trying
a case the first time it is heard.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Courts of Appeals
The U.S. courts of appeals are also
called appellate courts.
They are intermediate courts,
courts between lower courts and the
highest court.
They hear appeals and review
cases from lower courts.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Courts of Appeals
They have appellate jurisdiction,
meaning that any party to a suit
decided in a federal district court may
appeal to the federal court of appeals
in the circuit where the case was tried.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Special U.S. Courts
Congress has established several
special federal courts that have
jurisdiction in cases, including:
suits brought by citizens against the
federal government
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Special U.S. Courts
disagreements over taxes on
imported goods
disputes between taxpayers and the
Internal Revenue Service
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Supreme Court
is the highest court in the land
has original jurisdiction in all cases
involving ambassadors, consuls,
other public ministers, and cases in
which a state is a party
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Supreme Court
must hear all cases that involve the
constitutionality of the federal law
also decides which additional cases
it will hear from the U.S. courts of
appeals or the state supreme courts
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
What does jurisdiction mean?
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
ANSWER
The power and authority given to a
court to hear a case and to make a
judgment.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Pre-Learning Question
Do all states have the same court
system?
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
State Court Systems
Each state has its own court system.
However, the general pattern is the
same in all states.
local trial courts
general trial courts
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
State Court Systems
special courts
intermediate appellate courts
supreme courts
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Local Trial Courts
Local courts are courts of limited
jurisdiction.
Limited jurisdiction means they
handle minor matters, such as
misdemeanors and civil actions
involving small amounts of money.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
General Trial Courts
Each county in most states has at
least one general trial court.
It has general jurisdiction.
All cases involving major crimes
and large amounts of money must
begin in one of these courts.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Special Courts
Courts have been established in many
states to handle specialized cases.
Domestic relations courts handle
divorce, annulment, and dissolution
proceedings.
Juvenile courts have jurisdiction
over delinquent, unruly, abused, or
neglected children.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Juvenile Courts
A delinquent child is a minor who
has committed an adult crime.
An unruly child is generally a
minor who has done something
inappropriate that is not considered
an adult crime.

Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Juvenile Courts
A neglected or abused child is
one who is homeless, destitute, or
without adequate parental care.
He or she may become a ward of
the state.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Supreme Courts
The highest court in most states is
known as the supreme court.
Typically these courts decide
matters of law appealed from lower
courts.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
2.1
Court Systems in the United States
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Court of Appeals
U.S. District Courts
Appellate Courts
General Trial Courts
Lower Trial Courts
State Supreme Courts
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
1. What are the differences among
original, appellate, limited and
general jurisdiction?
Section 2.1 Assessment
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Original: district courts have authority to try
a case the first time it is heard.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Appellate: any party to a suit decided in a
federal district court may appeal the
decision to the federal court of appeals in
the circuit where the case was tried.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Limited: local courts have jurisdiction only
in minor matters such as misdemeanors
and civil actions involving small amounts of
money.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
General: general trial courts handle the
major civil and criminal cases in each state.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
2. How are the federal courts
structured?
Section 2.1 Assessment
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Three tiers:
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
LowestU.S. district courts located
throughout U.S.
MiddleU.S. courts of appeals
HighestSupreme Court
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
3. What is the role of the United States
Supreme Court?
Section 2.1 Assessment
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
The Supreme Court is the highest court
with both original and appellate jurisdiction.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
4. How are most state courts
structured?
Section 2.1 Assessment
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Tiers of local trial courts, general trial
courts, intermediate appellate courts, and
supreme courts.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
5. Explain the differences among
unruly, delinquent, and abused or
neglected juveniles.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Unruly: minor who has committed an act
that would not be a crime if an adult did it.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Delinquent: minor who has committed an
act that would be a crime if an adult did it.
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Reviewing What You Learned
Neglected/abused: homeless, destitute, or
without adequate parental care
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answer
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Section 2.1 Assessment
Critical Thinking Activity
Juvenile Law
Why is it important to be able to distinguish
among unruly, delinquent, and abused or
neglected juveniles?
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Section 2.1 Assessment
Answers could suggest that crimes
committed by an unruly child are not as
serious as those committed by delinquents
and need a lesser punishment. Abused
children may be treated with leniency.
Critical Thinking Activity Answer
Juvenile Law
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Section 2.1 Assessment
Legal Skills in Action
Structure of the Court System
Your 30-year-old brother says he has no
faith in the legal system, and for that
reason, will never sue anyone.
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Section 2.1 Assessment
With a partner, role-play a response to your
brothers argument. Explain why
understanding the structure of the federal
court system might benefit him, even if he
never intends to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit.
Legal Skills in Action
Structure of the Court System
Understanding Business and Personal Law
A Dual Court System
Section 2.1
The Court System
Section 2.1 Assessment
Role-plays will vary but should
demonstrate an understanding of the
federal court system.
Legal Skills in Action Answer
Structure of the Court System
2 Chapter
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A Dual Court System
End of Section 2.1