Article III-The Judicial Branch Our Nation’s Court System

Main roles and powers

• Interpret the law

• Exercise the power of judicial review

• Chief Justice presides over trials of presidential impeachment

Qualifications•Judges serve for life

•NO other age,

citizenship requirements

Judicial Review (est. Marbury V Madison 1803)

• SUPREME COURT HAS FINAL SAY!

• Determines if the following actions are allowable by the Constitution− laws passed by Congress − treaties negotiated by the President and approved

by the Senate − actions by the President in enforcing the law are

allowable by the Constitution − laws passed by states are

Jurisdiction• Hear cases about:

− Federal law− Treaties− Maritime law− Interpretation of the Constituion

• The Supreme Court hears cases of appeal from lower federal and state courts

• The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (may hear a case first) in cases involving a state vs. state matter or a branch vs. branch matter

Article V Amending the Constitution

Only 27 Amendments!• First 10 = The Bill of Rights 1791

• Difficult to amend

• Constitution would not have been ratified without BOR

• http://www.regentsprep.org/Regents/ushisgov/themes/government/amendments.htm

First 10 Amendments (AKA) Bill of Rights

Rank YOUR Rights!

• SEE HAND OUT

• Take out a piece of paper and list the first 10 amendments in the order that they are important to you. (#1 is most important)

• Explain why your first 5 are important to you or give an example of when you might need the protection.