Lesson 4. Legal system of the usa

Reading 1

Read the text and complete the task, which follows.

The u.S. Legal System

The U.S. Constitution establishes a federal system of government. The constitution gives specific powers to the federal (national) government. All power not delegated to the federal government remains with the states. Each of the states has its own state constitution, governmental structure, legal codes, and judiciary.

The U.S. Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government and specifies the authority of the federal courts. Federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction only over certain types of cases, such as cases involving federal laws, controversies between states, and cases involving foreign governments. In certain other areas federal courts share jurisdiction with state courts. For example, both federal and state courts may decide cases involving parties who live in different states. State courts have exclusive jurisdiction over the vast majority of cases.

Parties have a right to trial by jury in all criminal and most civil cases. A jury usually consists of a panel of citizens who hear the evidence and apply the law stated by the evidence at trial. However, most legal disputes in the United States are resolved before a case reaches a jury. They are resolved by legal motion or settlement, not by trial.

Task 1. Finish the following sentences

1) The U.S. Constitution establishes … .

2) Each of the states has … .

3) Federal courts have … .

4) State courts have … .

5) Parties have a right … .

6) Most legal disputes in the United States are resolved … .

Reading 2

Read the text and complete the task, which follows.

Structure of the federal court system

The U.S. Constitution establishes the U.S. Supreme Court and gives Congress the authority to establish the lower federal courts. Congress has established two levels of federal courts below the Supreme Court: the U.S. district courts and the U.S. circuit courts of appeals. U.S. district courts are the courts of first instance in the federal system. There are 94 such district courts throughout the nation. At least one district court is located in each state.

District judges sit individually to hear cases. In addition to district judges, bankruptcy judges and magistrate judges (who perform many judicial duties under the general supervision of district judges) are located within the district courts. U.S. circuit courts of appeals are on the next level. There are 2 of these regional intermediate appellate courts located in different parts of the country. Panels of three judges hear appeals from the district courts.

At the top of the federal court system is the U.S. Supreme Court, made up of nine justices who sit together to hear cases. At its discretion, the U.S. Supreme Court may hear appeals from the federal circuit courts of appeals as well as the highest state courts if the appeal involves the U.S. Constitution or federal law.