BLAW 310 CHAPTER 3 EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026

BLAW 310 CHAPTER 3 EXAM QUESTIONS ANSWERED CORRECTLY LATEST UPDATE 2026 State Court Systems - Answers -limited-jurisdiction trial courts -general-jurisdiction trial courts -intermediate appellate courts -highest state court Limited-jurisdiction trial courts - Answers -Courts that hear matters of specialized or limited nature -Evidence can be introduced, and testimony can be given -Decision can be appealed to a general-jurisdiction court or an appellate court Small claims courts - Answers hear civil cases involving small dollar amounts General-jurisdiction trial courts (courts of record) - Answers -Hear cases of a general nature that are not within the jurisdiction of limited-jurisdiction trial courts (Felonies or civil cases involving more than a certain dollar amount) -Testimony and evidence at trial are recorded and stored for future reference Courts of record - Answers Decisions are appealable to an intermediate appellate court or the state supreme court, depending on the circumstances Intermediate appellate courts (courts of appeals) - Answers -Hear appeals from trial courts -Reviews either pertinent parts or the whole trial court record from the lower court -No new evidence or testimony is permitted -Decisions are appealable to the state's highest court Highest state court (state supreme court) - Answers -Hears appeals from intermediate appellate state courts and certain trial courts -No new evidence or testimony is heard -Decisions are final unless a question of law is involved that is appealable to the U.S. Supreme Court Typical State Court System - Answers U.S. Supreme Court - State Supreme Court - State Appeals Court - State Trial Courts of General Jurisdiction (one per county) - civil division, criminal division, probate division, domestic relations division, juvenile division - small claims courts, municipal courts, justice-of-the-peace courts. Federal Court Systems - Answers Article III of the U.S. Constitution: -provides that the federal government's judicial power is vested in one "Supreme Court," the U.S. Supreme Court. -Authorizes Congress to establish "inferior" federal courts -Congress established district courts, courts of appeals, and bankruptcy courts Special Federal Courts - Answers Hear matters of specialized or limited jurisdiction: -U.S. Tax Court -U.S. Court of Federal Claims -U.S. Court of International Trade -U.S. Bankruptcy Court -U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces -U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims U.S. Tax Court - Answers Hears cases that involve federal tax laws U.S. Court of Federal Claims - Answers Hears cases brought against the United States U.S. Court of International Trade - Answers Handles cases that involve tariffs and international trade disputes U.S. Bankruptcy Court - Answers Hears cases that involve federal bankruptcy laws U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces - Answers Exercises appellate jurisdiction over members of the armed services U.S. Court of Appeals for the Veterans Claims - Answers Exercises jurisdiction over decisions of the Department of Veterans Affairs U.S. District Courts - Answers •Federal court system's trial courts of general jurisdiction •There are 94 available courts -District: Geographical area served by each court •Empowered to: Impanel juries, receive evidence, hear testimony, decide cases U.S. Courts of Appeals - Answers •Federal court system's intermediate appellate courts •Includes 13 circuits in the federal court system (first 12 are geographical and 12th is in Washington D.C.-The U.S. District of Columbia Circuit) Circuit - Answers Geographical area served by each court 13th court of appeals/U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit - Answers created by Congress in 1982, consists of special appellate jurisdiction to review decisions of: the court of federal claims, the patent and trademark office, and the court of international trade. provides uniformity in the application of federal law in the areas of patent law Supreme Court of the United States/U.S. Supreme Court - Answers highest court in the country, located in Washington DC, composed of nine justices nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court appointed by the - Answers president Associate Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court - Answers other eight justices Jurisdiction of the U.S. Supreme Court - Answers -Hears appeals from federal circuit courts of appeals -Under certain circumstances, hears appeals from: Federal district courts, Special federal courts, and Highest state courts -No new evidence or testimony is heard -Decision is final Decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court - Answers -Given the discretion to decide what cases it will hear by the Congress -Petitioner needs to file a petition for certiorari -Court issues a writ of certiorari if it decides to review a case Petition for certiorari - Answers petition asking the Supreme Court to hear a case Writ of certiorari - Answers official notice that the Supreme Court will review a case Federal Courts of Appeal - Answers U.S. Supreme Court - U.S. Court of Appeals (for 11 territorial circuits and DC circuit) - many federal administrative agencies, U.S. district courts (94 districts) - U.S. Bankruptcy Courts, U.S. tax court U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces - appellate courts of the military services U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit - U.S. court of federal claims, U.S. court of international trade, U.S. patent and trademark office, U.S. court of appeals for veterans claims Types of decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court - Answers unanimous, majority, plurality, tie unanimous - Answers agreement of all justices to the outcome and reasoning used to decide a case majority - Answers majority of justices agree to the outcome and reasoning used to decide a case. plurality - Answers majority of justices agree to the outcome and but disagree with the reasoning for reaching the outcome tie - Answers sometimes the Supreme Court sits without all nine justices being present, leads to lower court decision being affirmed Concurring opinion - Answers issued by a justice who agrees with the outcome of a case but not the reason proffered by other justices Dissenting opinion - Answers filed by a justice who does not agree with a decision and sets forth the reasons for his or her dissent Jurisdiction of Federal State Courts - Answers -Set forth by Article III, Section 2, of the U.S. Constitution -Federal courts have limited jurisdiction to hear cases involving: federal question or diversity of citizenship Federal Question - Answers -Federal courts have subject matter jurisdiction to hear cases involving "federal questions" -Arising under the U.S. Constitution, treaties, and federal statutes and regulations -Limited in hearing cases which involve federal question case Federal question case - Answers case arising under the U.S. constitution, treaties, or federal statutes and regulations. involves no dollar limit on cases that can be brought in federal court. Diversity of Citizenship - Answers occurs if a lawsuit involves citizens of different states or a citizen of a state and a citizen or subject of a foreign country. plaintiff may bring the case is state or federal court. Jurisdiction of State Courts - Answers hearing cases that federal courts do not have jurisdiction to hear, cases involving laws of states, Washington DC, territories, and local governments. State courts have concurrent jurisdiction with federal courts. Concurrent Jurisdiction - Answers To hear cases involving diversity of citizenship and federal questions over which federal courts do not have exclusive jurisdiction Full Faith and Credit Clause - Answers A judgment of a court of one state must be given "full faith and credit" by the courts of another state