The constitution established a federal government with limited powers and limited federal jurisdiction. Article lll, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution limits the jurisdiction of the federal courts to cases involved in either federal question based on a treaty or federal law, or diversity of citizenship which arises parties to a lawsuit are from different states. The federal courts consist of 3 levels of courts. The first tier is U.S. District or trial courts, where trials are held and testimony is taken. In these trial courts, they have limited jurisdiction, only having the power to try cases of certain claims. Then, there is the U.S Courts of Appeals. The U.S. has a total 13 courts of appeal, 12 of them hear appeals from the federal court within their respective judicial circuits. The Court of Appeal for the Thirteenth Circuit is called the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit has national jurisdiction over certain type of cases involving patent law or in which the U.S. government is a defendant. The highest tier of courts is the United States Supreme Courts. The Supreme Court was established in 19789 with six justices and since 1869 there have been nine justices on the court. According to Article lll of the U.S. Constitution, there is only one national Supreme Court. Most of the Supreme Courts work is as an appellate court, though, it can execute original jurisdiction. Cases that reach the Supreme Court is based on several factors which include, the significance of the issues and whether the Solicitor General is asking the Court to take the case. The Solicitor General is the person who represents the interest of the state in court and this individual should not be confused with the Attorney General. For the United States, the Solicitor will appear before the Supreme Court when the U.S. is a party to a case. An attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the state.
The constitution established a federal government with limited powers and limited federal jurisdiction. Article lll, Section 1, of the U.S. Constitution limits the jurisdiction of the federal courts to cases involved in either federal question based on a treaty or federal law, or diversity of citizenship which arises parties to a lawsuit are from different states. The federal courts consist of 3 levels of courts. The first tier is U.S. District or trial courts, where trials are held and testimony is taken. In these trial courts, they have limited jurisdiction, only having the power to try cases of certain claims. Then, there is the U.S Courts of Appeals. The U.S. has a total 13 courts of appeal, 12 of them hear appeals from the federal court within their respective judicial circuits. The Court of Appeal for the Thirteenth Circuit is called the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit has national jurisdiction over certain type of cases involving patent law or in which the U.S. government is a defendant. The highest tier of courts is the United States Supreme Courts. The Supreme Court was established in 19789 with six justices and since 1869 there have been nine justices on the court. According to Article lll of the U.S. Constitution, there is only one national Supreme Court. Most of the Supreme Courts work is as an appellate court, though, it can execute original jurisdiction. Cases that reach the Supreme Court is based on several factors which include, the significance of the issues and whether the Solicitor General is asking the Court to take the case. The Solicitor General is the person who represents the interest of the state in court and this individual should not be confused with the Attorney General. For the United States, the Solicitor will appear before the Supreme Court when the U.S. is a party to a case. An attorney general is the chief law enforcement officer of the state.