The US judicial system and its structure

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US The judiciary, like in any other democratic country, is one of the three pillars of government.Along with the President and the Congress, the Supreme Court under the Constitution of the United States, it is one of the highest bodies of the hierarchy, has the power to control.But since the country is a community virtually independent regions, a characteristic feature of its judicial system is manifested in the absence of a unified system.We can say that in the state at the same time there are more than 50 separate, parallel systems of justice in every state and certain federal network.

lack of a single vertical line that runs through the entire structure of American Justice, explains historical background that influenced the formation of the legal system of each state.However, you can highlight the main features of the division of justice, upon which the American judicial system.This three (in small area or by population states and counties - two) stage general courts, which are complemented by all sorts of institutions with limited powers.The first stage of this structure are the district courts of general jurisdiction.They initially hear civil and criminal cases, except those which, according to its specificity, should be considered by the specialized departments.

specialized agencies such special US court system has spawned a lot.In other countries, it is mainly the military tribunals, and here we see a wide range of various lawsuits and cases that are sent to these bodies.It may be, for example, processes for minors, domestic violence, bankruptcy, for litigation because of the territorial division of the land between the owners, the case concerning the taxation, foreign trade and others.When the district courts of general jurisdiction operate federal magistrates, who have support functions, as well as doing business on minor offenses for which the law provides a maximum $ 1,000 fine or a year in prison.

If a citizen wishes to challenge the judgment or decision of the justice of first instance, the US judicial system gives him the opportunity: you need only send the appropriately formalized complaint in one of the 13 appellate courts, which were established in 1891 and is an intermediate stage between the district boards andthe US Supreme Court.The territorial jurisdiction of each such court applies to a different number of states (three to ten).At the meetings involved a special member of the US Supreme Court assigned to the institution.

At the federal level, the US judicial system embodied in various instances "nadshtatnogo" level and the Supreme Court of the country as the supremacy of the organ.It nine judges.All are appointed by the President and are in the process of approval in the Senate.Over designate and the President of the Supreme Court.The decisions of this body adopted a quorum when it voted for six people.The jurisdiction of the Court to receive complaints to institutions lower court if they address issues of federal importance, or the decision was taken on the basis of laws that contradict the Constitution of the United States of America.As the first stage of the federal courts involved in the review of lawsuits between states or cases relating to patents, maritime traffic, copyrights, as well as foreign ambassadors.

US judicial system is not limited to outside the country.The powers of the district courts act on the four areas in other countries (for example, in Puerto Rico), under the control of the United States.As you can see, an extensive system of justice gives US citizen protection and the right to appeal at all levels.This lengthy list you can still add a tribal college operating in indigenous reservations.They are engaged in the consideration of lawsuits between Indians - members of the settlement.