The US judicial power, as in any otherdemocratic country, is one of the three pillars of the state system. Along with the President and the Congress, the Supreme Court, according to the Constitution of the United States of America, is one of the highest organs of the hierarchy, with the powers of government. But since the country is a community of almost independent regions, a characteristic feature of its judicial system is the lack of a unified system. We can say that on the territory of the state at the same time there are more than 50 separate, parallel judicial systems in each state and a separate federal network.
The absence of a single vertical line that permeates allstructure of American justice, is explained by the historical prerequisites that have influenced the formation of the legal system of each state. However, it is possible to identify the main features of the division of the justice system, on which the American judicial system is based. These three (in small or in terms of population or states and districts - two) levels of general jurisdiction, which are supplemented by all kinds of institutions with limited powers. The first stage of such a structure is the district courts of general jurisdiction. They initially listen to civil and criminal cases, except for those that, according to their specifics, should be considered by specialized departments.
Таких особых специализированных учреждений the US judicial system has generated a lot. In other countries, this is mainly military tribunals, and here we see a wide range of various lawsuits and cases that are sent to these bodies. This can be, for example, the processes of juvenile issues, domestic violence, bankruptcy, litigation because of the territorial division of land between owners, cases concerning taxes, foreign trade, and others. In the district courts of general jurisdiction, there are federal magistrates who have auxiliary functions, and also conduct cases for minor offenses for which no more than $ 1000 fine or a year of imprisonment is provided by law.
If a citizen wishes to challenge a sentence orthe decision of the court of first instance, the US judicial system gives him this opportunity: it is only necessary to send a suitably filed complaint to one of the 13 appellate instances that were established in 1891 and represent an intermediate step between the district collegiums and the US Supreme Court. The territorial jurisdiction of each such court extends to a different number of states (three to ten). The meetings are attended by a special member of the US Supreme Court, assigned to this institution.
At the federal level, the US judicial systemis embodied in various instances of the "supernumerary" level and the Supreme Court of the country as the main organ. There are nine judges in it. All of them are appointed by the President and pass the approval procedure in the Senate. Over and appoint the President of the Supreme Court. Decisions in this body are taken by a quorum when six people vote for it. The jurisdiction of this court includes the examination of complaints against institutions of lower instance if they address issues of federal importance or the decision was made on the basis of laws that are contrary to the Constitution of the United States of America. As the first stage of the process, federal courts deal with inter-state disputes or cases involving patents, maritime communications, copyrights, and foreign ambassadors.
The US judicial system is not limited tocountries. The powers of the district authorities also apply in four territories in other countries (for example, in Puerto Rico), which are under the control of the United States. As we see, the extensive system of justice gives the US citizen protection and the right to appeal at all levels. To this long list one can also add tribal colleges operating in the reserves of the indigenous population. They deal with litigation between Indians - members of the settlement.