Civics courts

• The Judicial Branch interprets laws and keeps the original decisions of the Supreme Court
• Types of courts


  • Supreme Court
  • Court of Appeals
  • District Court
  • Appellate Courts
• Supreme Court


  • Reviews decisions made by lower courts
  • Has jurisdiction over all cases, but does not hear all cases
  • Consists of 9 Justices
  • Each case is reviewed by a panel of 12 Judges
  • The Chief Justice is the head of the Supreme Court
  • Judges are appointed by the President and approved by the Senate
  • Judges serve for life
  • Judges can only be removed through impeachment by Congress
• Types of rulings


  • Decides with finality whether a law or government action is constitutional
  • Verifies guilt or innocence
  • Does not decide with finality whether a defendant is guilty or innocent, only whether there is enough evidence to send the case to trial
  • Only courts of the Judicial Branch can issue writs of habeas corpus
• Jurisdiction


  • Original jurisdiction for cases involving ambassadors, ministers, and consuls
  • Appellate jurisdiction for cases from lower courts
• How judges get positions

  • President appoints judges
  • Senate approves appointments
• How judges can be removed

  • Can be removed by impeachment by Congress
  • Judges can be removed for high crimes and misdemeanors
  • Judges can be removed through an impediment, such as a physical or mental disability, that prevents them from performing their duties
  • The President can remove a judge from office if they cannot perform their duties due to an impediment, but only with the approval of the Senate
  • The Senate can remove a judge from office through impeachment, but only with a two-thirds vote
• flyn Morehouse
• Bill to Law Notes
• House of Representatives


  Introduces the bill
• Sergeant at Arms


  Introduces the bill and is known as the keeper of the mace
• Introduction of the bill

  Representative/Senator introduces the bill
• Debate


  House or Senate members argue for or against the bill
• After debate


  Vote
• Vote


  Pass or fail
• Pass


  Bill is passed and moves to the next step
• President


  Signs and poses bill or vetoes bill
• President vetoes bill


  Congress can override a President's veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate
• President does not sign bill within 10 days


  If Congress is in session then the bill is passed
• Congress can override a President's veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate