A brief overview of the American Legal System. Outlining the structure of the government and court system.

6. • Common Law System
– Judicial determinations are critical to court’s
resolution of the matter before it.
– Federalism
• power is divided between a national (federal) government
and various state governments.
• The states are empowered to pass, enforce, and interpret
laws, as long as they do not violate the Constitution.
• Federal government possesses significant powers but the
individual states retain powers not specifically enumerated
as exclusively federal. (wherever the constitution is silent)

12. Structure of the United States
• 1 Federal Constitution
• 50 States
• 1 Supreme Court of the Land
• 13 Circuits
• Special Courts
– Native American System
– Military Trials

24. Sources
• Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
• Federal Rules of Professional Responsibility
• U.S Constitution

26. • Common Law System
– Judicial determinations are critical to court’s
resolution of the matter before it.
– Federalism
• power is divided between a national (federal) government
and various state governments.
• The states are empowered to pass, enforce, and interpret
laws, as long as they do not violate the Constitution.
• Federal government possesses significant powers but the
individual states retain powers not specifically enumerated
as exclusively federal. (wherever the constitution is silent)

32. Structure of the United States
• 1 Federal Constitution
• 50 States
• 1 Supreme Court of the Land
• 13 Circuits
• Special Courts
– Native American System
– Military Trials

44. Sources
• Federal Rules of Civil Procedure
• Federal Rules of Professional Responsibility
• U.S Constitution