Structure of Courts in the United States

This chapter examines the structure of the third branch of government at both the federal and state levels in the United States and discusses the general differences between trial courts and appellate courts. The state supreme courts are the highest interpreters of state constitutions and of matters that are purely issues of state law. The main purpose of trial courts is to determine questions of fact. The judge is responsible for determining any questions of law, as well as questions of fact if there is no jury. The chapter also defines the work of the federal judicial agencies, which assist federal judges in their work. After the American Revolution, the state court systems remained much as they had been prior to independence. After the Declaration of Independence, the national government of the United States functioned under the Articles of Confederation. The new Constitution created a national executive, a new bicameral legislature and a new Supreme Court of the United States.