The Judicial System of the United States of America (1688)

the Supreme Court [sju:'pri:m ko:t] – Верховный суд

Chief Justice [t∫if 'd stis] – председатель Верховного суда

Court of Appeal [ko:t əv ə'рi:l] – апелляционный суд

Court of Claims [ko:t əv kleimz] – претенциозный суд (суд для рассмотрения исков)

In the United States there is a dual court system composed of a federal judiciary and 50 states judiciaries. The federal judiciary consists of the Supreme Court and the system of federal courts. The Supreme Court is the highest judicial organ of the USA. It meets in the Supreme Court Building of white marble in Washington, D. C. The Supreme Court is made up of the Chief Justice and eight associate justices. They are all appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. Every judge, is appointed for life, or until he chooses to resign. One of the most important duties of the justices is to decide whether laws passed by the Congress agree with the Constitution.

By creating the Supreme Court and authorizing the establishment of other Federal courts, the Constitution created the judicial power, i.e. the power to hear and decide the two classes of cases – criminal and civil. The jurisdiction of the Federal courts may include cases which concern the interpretation of the Constitution, of treaties between the U.S. and foreign countries. All cases involving a violation of Federal criminal laws are heard in a Federal court. They include cases relating to internal security, immigration, etc.

Immediately below the Supreme Court stand the Courts of Appeals, created in 1891 to facilitate the disposition of cases. With few exceptions, cases decided in the district courts go next to the appeals courts. Only the Supreme Court reviews the decisions of the appeals courts.

94 district courts are located in the states. Most cases and controversies start in district courts. Here nearly all accused of committing federal crimes are tried.

The Court of Claims consisting of a chief justice and four associate justices was established in 1855. This court hears claims of private individuals against the government for breach of contracts, unpaid salary, property taken for public use and personal injuries. To adjudicate controversies arising within custom houses, the custom court was established in 1890.

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