United States Government: Democracy in Action

Introduction
Decisions made by federal judges affect all Americans. For example, the Supreme Court has ruled that no matter your race, gender, or religious beliefs, you must have access to all public schools, institutions, and restaurants. If you purchase an item from another state, that item cannot be taxed. If you are taken into police custody, you must be told of your right to remain silent. What gives federal courts their power to make these rulings? In this activity, you will learn which types of cases fall under the jurisdiction of federal courts and why.

Destination Title: Understanding the Federal Courts

Note: Clicking on the link above will launch a new browser window.
Need help using your browser for this activity? Click here for Tips.

Use the information you found to answer the following questions.

1			How did the Constitution promote judicial independence from the legislative and executive branches?
2			What can a federal court NOT do?
3			What does "federal question" jurisdiction mean?
4			What does "diversity of citizenship" jurisdiction mean?
5			List at least five kinds of cases that are heard only in state, rather than in federal, courts.