The three branches of the federal government provide a base for the way we live our lives. The process by which the Judicial, Legislative, and Executive branches operate is long, but necessary. Each branch has a duty to watch the others through a process of checks and balances mandated by the Constitution of the United States. The following will give a brief explanation of each branch and their duties.
Judicial Branch.
Our Judicial branch of government is defined in Article III of the Constitution and by Congress.
It has been formed into a 3-tiered pyramid configuration. On the bottom are the District Courts, in the middle are the Courts of Appeal and on the top is the Supreme Court. .
The District courts are where most cases involving federal law begin. Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution specifies these cases. Currently there are 89 district courts in 50 states (at least one per state), one in the District of Columbia, and one in Puerto Rico. There are also Territorial Federal District courts in Guam, The Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands which have local jurisdiction, for a total of 94 district courts(Encarta). Our state of Michigan has two district courts, located in Grand Rapids and Detroit. Congress has authorized about 650 judges to serve in these courts. All are nominated by the President of the U.S. Congress must confirm them before being appointed to their seats. .
District courts are courts of general jurisdiction, meaning they have the authority to hear and decide on certain cases for the first time. They are also trial courts. A trial in the district courts may be heard in three different ways. A grand jury may be called to decide whether there is evidence that a crime has been committed. A petit jury will hear evidence and decide the guilt or innocence of a party. And a lone judge may hear the case without the help of a jury (Greenberg/Page; p.
