The judicial system of the USA

Article III of the United States Constitution establishes the judicial branch as one of the three separate and distinct branches of the federal government. The other two are the legislative and executive branches.

The federal courts are often called the guardians of the Constitution because their rulings protect rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. Through fair and impartial judgments, the federal courts interpret and apply the law to resolve disputes. The courts do not make the laws. That is the responsibility of the Congress. Nor do the courts have the power to enforce the laws. That is the role of the President and the many executive branch departments and agencies.

The Founding Fathers of the nation considered an independent federal judiciary essential to ensure fairness and equal justice for all citizens of the United States. The Constitution they drafted promotes judicial independence in two major ways. First, federal judges are appointed for life, and they can be removed from office only through impeachment and conviction by Congress of “Treason, Bribery, or other high rimes and Misdemeanors.” Second, the Constitution provides that the compensation of federal judges “shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office,” which means that neither the President nor the Congress can reduce the salary of a federal judge. These two protections help an independent judiciary to decide cases free from popular passions and political influence.

The US court system is complex: the judiciary is divided into the federal and state judiciary. Individuals fall under the jurisdiction of two different court systems, their state courts and federal courts. Each state runs its own court system, and no two are identical. There is also a system of federal courts which coexist with the state courts. People can sue in either system but the majority of cases go to the state courts.

The system of federal courts is like a pyramid. The lowest courts in the Federal Court system are the district courts where litigation begins. There are about ninety district courts in different parts of the USA and about two hundred district judges. Most criminal and civil cases are tried by district courts. The district court is the only Federal court where trials are held, juries are used, and witnesses are called.

The USA is divided into eleven judicial circuits and each of them has a Federal Court of Appeals which hears appeals from lower courts. To appeal means to take a case to a higher court. As a rule a Federal Court of Appeals sits with three judges on the bench.

The Supreme Court is the highest judicial body of the United States. It is at the top of the pyramid of the US federal courts. Above the main entrance of the Supreme Court Building in Washington we can see the following words: ‘Equal Justice Under Law’. The Supreme Court has the right to declare unconstitutional any law passed by the Congress or any decree issued by the President. The Supreme Court consists of the Chief Justice of the USA and eight Associate Justices. They are all appointed by the President and approved by the Senate. The Federal Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court are appellate courts. The decision of the Supreme Court is final.

TASK 2. Answer the following questions:

1) What are the branches of the federal government?

2) How does Article III of the US Constitution establish the judicial branch of the federal government?

3) Why are the federal courts the guardians of the US Constitution?

4) What are the functions of the federal courts in the USA?

5) Do the federal courts have the power to enforce the laws?

6) Did the Founding Fathers of the American nation consider an independent federal judiciary essential to ensure fairness and equal justice for all citizens of the United States?

7) How does the US Constitution promote judicial independence?

8) Can the society remove a federal judge from office?

9) Who can reduce the salary of a federal judge during his continuance in office?

10) How many court systems coexist in the USA?

11) What are the lowest courts in the US Federal Court system? What are their functions?

12) What are the functions of the Federal Court of Appeals in the USA?

13) What does it mean ‘to appeal’?

14) What is the highest judicial body of the United States?

15) What words can we see above the main entrance of the Supreme Court Building in Washington?

16) What are the functions of the Supreme Court?

17) Are the Federal Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court appellate courts?

18) Is the decision of the Supreme Court final?

TASK 3. Complete the sentences using the words and word combinations from the box. If necessary, consult English-Russian dictionaries.

enforce laws; separate and distinct; to ensure fairness and equal justice; the guardians of the Constitution; a federal judge; legislative, executive and judicial; rights and liberties; to resolve disputes; judicial independence; hears appeals; for life; makes laws; appellate courts; district courts; the Supreme Court; unconstitutional; Equal Justice; final

(1) There are three … branches of the federal government: …. (2) The federal courts are … because their rulings protect … guaranteed by the Constitution. (3) The federal courts interpret and apply the law …. (4) The Congress …, the President and the executive branch departments and agencies …. (5) An independent federal judiciary is essential … for all citizens of the United States. (6) The US Constitution promotes … in two major ways. (7) Nobody can reduce the salary of … during his continuance in office. (8) Federal judges are appointed …. (8) The lowest courts in the Federal Court system are the … where litigation begins. (9) There are eleven judicial circuits in the USA and each of them has a Federal Court of Appeals which … from lower courts. (10) … is the highest judicial body of the United States. (11) Above the main entrance of the Supreme Court Building in Washington we can see the following words: ‘…. under law’. (12) The Supreme Court has the right to declare … any law of the Congress or any decree of the President. (13) The Federal Courts of Appeals and the Supreme Court are …. (14) The decision of the Supreme Court is ….

TASK 4. Translate the following words and word combinations into English:

1. Cтатья III Конституции Соединенных Штатов; судебная власть; законодательная власть; исполнительная власть; гарант Конституции; федеральный суд; защищать права и свободы; с помощью справедливых и беспристрастных решений; интерпретировать и применять законы; структуры и подразделения исполнительной власти; обеспечить справедливость и равное правосудие; обеспечить независимость судопроизводства; отцы-основатели американской нации; назначать пожизненно; снять с должности; уменьшить заработную плату; принять решение по делу; независимо от общественного мнения и политического давления.

2. подпадать под юрисдикцию; сосуществовать; суды штатов; федеральные суды; подать иск; большинство дел; судебное разбирательство / тяжба; окружной суд; апелляционный суд; Верховный Суд; высший судебный орган; объявить неконституционным; указ президента; главный судья / председательствующий судья; рассматривать апелляции.

3. Судебная система США имеет две параллельные системы судопроизводства: федеральную систему и судопроизводство в каждом штате. Каждый штат имеет свою собственную судебную систему, и при этом ни одна из них не похожа на другую. Граждане подпадают под юрисдикцию двух разных судебных систем: федеральных судов и судов того штата, где они проживают. Люди могут подать иск в суд любой из этих двух систем судопроизводства, но большинство дел рассматриваются в судах штатов.

Система федеральных судов подобна пирамиде. Низшая судебная инстанция в федеральной судебной системе – это районные суды, где и начинается судопроизводство. В разных частях США заседают около 90 районных судов и около 200 судей. Большинство уголовных и гражданских дел рассматриваются именно районными судами. Районный суд – это единственный федеральный суд, где дело слушается с участием суда присяжных, вызываются свидетели.

США делятся на 11 судебных округов, и в каждом из них есть федеральный апелляционный суд, который рассматривает апелляции из судов низшей инстанции. Подать апелляцию – это значит подать апелляционную жалобу в суд высшей инстанции.

Верховный Суд является высшим судебным органом США. У него есть право объявить неконституционным любой закон, принятый Конгрессом, и любой указ Президента. Верховный Суд США состоит из Председателя Суда и восьми членов. Они все назначаются Президентом, и их кандидатуры должны быть одобрены Сенатом. Решение Верховного Суда является окончательным.

From a little book called “Disorder in the Court” These are things people actually said in court, word by word
Q: What is your date of birth? A: July 15. Q: What year? A: Every year.   Q: How old is your son? A: 35 or 38, I can’t remember. Q: How long has he lived with you? A: 45 years.   Q: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?	Q: Did he kill you?   Q: You were there until the time you left, is that true?   Q: How many times have you committed suicide?   Q: How was your first marriage terminated? A: By death. Q: And by whose death was it terminated?

TASK 5. Study the text below, making sure you fully comprehend it. Where appropriate, consult English-Russian dictionaries and/or other reference & source books on law.