Table of Contents

Federal Court System

Introduction: WHAT IS A FEDERAL COURT?

WHAT IS A FEDERAL COURT?

You probably realize that there are both federal courts and state courts.  The two kinds
of courts are a result of a principle of our Constitution called federalism.  Federalism
gives some functions to the United States government and leaves the other functions
to the states.  The functions of the U.S. -- or federal--government involve the nation
as a whole and include regulating commerce between the states and with foreign
countries, providing for the national defense, and administering federal lands and other
property.  State governments perform most of the functions you probably associate
with "government," such as running the schools, managing the police departments,
and paving the streets.

 Federal courts are established by the U.S. government to decide disputes concerning the federal Constitution and laws passed by Congress, called statutes.  State courts are established by a state, or by a county or city within the state.  Although state courts must enforce the federal Constitution and laws, most of the cases they decide involve the constitution and laws of the particular state.

THE IMPORTANCE OF CITATION Research, Writing & Advocacy Professor Hensel October 2, 2001

WHAT_IS_A_FEDERAL_COURT?