Lecture 2 - Court Systems

How many Levels of Government are there in the U.S.?

Three

1. Federal (1)

2. State (50)

3. Local (approx. 89,476).

What are the three branches of the U.S. federal Government?

1. Legislature (Congress) - makes federal laws

2. Executive (President) - enforces federal laws

3. Judicial (Federal Courts) - Interprets federal laws

What is federalism?

Power is divided between the federal government and state governments.

Do US states have their own governments?

Yes

• Each state has an independent government with its own constitution, mirroring the federal system.

Who is the head of the executive branch in the U.S. state?

The Governor (I brought whiskey)

• Responsibilities include enforcing state laws, proposing budgets, overseeing agencies, and sometimes vetoing legislation.

How are governors chosen and how long do they serve?

Mostly by direct election for 4-year terms (a few states use 2-year terms).

What type of legislatures do US states have?

Most have bicameral legislatures (State Senate + State House/Assembly).

• Nebraska is unicameral (one-house).

How are state legislators elected?

By single-member districts.

• “Winner takes all.”

• No proportional representation and voters in each district elect one representative.

What is the principle of “one person, one vote”?

Each legislative district must have roughly equal population to ensure fair representation.

How do US state judicial systems work?

Each state has its own court, separate from federal courts, handling cases under state law.

How are state judges elected?

Methods vary:

• Elected by voters

• Appointed by governors

• Hybrid “merit retention” system

Which elections are usually direct in US states?

Governors, legislators, and sometimes judges.

How does state authority relate to federal authority?

States control areas not granted to the federal government.

• (E.g., education, policing, intrastate commerce)

What is the Supremacy Clause?

Federal law overrides state law if there is a conflict.

Examples of Federal powers

• Declare war

• Maintain armed forces

• Establish foreign policy

Give examples of state powers

• Schools

• Policing

• Establish local governments

How do the federal and states courts work in the same way?

Federal courts handle federal law

State courts handle state law

Can state laws contradict federal laws?

No

• Federal law is supreme

Example of federal government building

The White House

Example of state government building

Nebraska State Capitol

Example of a local government building

New York City Hall