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• Article III of The Constitution • Created the Judicial Branch (the court system)• Main job: interpret the constitutionality of laws

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• Three Levels of Federal Courts• District Courts

• Lowest level• Trial courts• 94 districts in the U.S.

• Appeals Courts• Middle level• 13 circuits in the U.S.

• Supreme Court• Highest level• 1 court

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• Qualifications:• Appointed by President, confirmed by Senate• No term limit

• Serve until death, retirement, or impeachment • Why Don’t We Elect Federal Judges?

• Don’t want them influenced by temporary passions• Don’t want them to worry about being elected

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• How Does The Supreme Court Check the Other Branches? • Can declare laws made by Congress “unconstitutional”(no basis in Constitution) • Can declare presidential acts unconstitutional

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• 4 Kinds of Law in the U.S.• Statutory Law

• Laws passed by Congress and state and local governments• Their meaning is unambiguous

• What Are Some Examples of Statutory Law?• Fire exits in public buildings • Disability access• Speed limits

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• Common Law• Law developed through “stare decisis” (looking to prior similar cases) • Does not rely on legislative or executive actions, relies on common sense• Allows for flexibility • What Is an Example of Common Law?

• Dividing of property after death or divorce

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• Administrative Law• Made by government agencies

• “Bureaucrats” (unelected gov’t officials) • Laws that affect our daily lives• What Is an Example of an Administrative Law?

• Food recall• Toy recall

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• Constitutional Law• Laws based on the Constitution • deals with the basic relationships between the different entities in our society

• Ex: laws that define the relationship between gov’t and the people• What Are examples of Constitutional Law?

• Freedom of speech• Right to an education

C3.1(3) SUMMARY QUESTIONS

1. In Your Opinion, Should We Elect Federal Judges? Explain Your Answer2. Why Do You Think Some People Feel Stare Decisis Is Easily Abused by

Judges?3. What Are Three Examples of Statutory Law You Will See Today?4. In Your Opinion, Could Administrative Law Ever Be Used Too Much? Not

Enough? Explain5. Why do You Think Some People Feel Bureaucrats Sometimes Threaten Our

Democratic Form of Government?