American Government / Unit 9 Gov 411 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Third Branch
Captions available
The idea
Article III vests judicial power in one Supreme Court and in lower courts that Congress may establish.
In practice
The Constitution built the top of the judiciary and handed Congress the rest of the blueprint.
Where people slip
The federal courts' shape below the top is statutory, and Congress has reshaped it repeatedly.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for American Government