Difference between federal court and state court

Summary

The video script explores the complex relationship between state and federal governments in the United States, highlighting their dual governance structure. It explains that while state courts have broader jurisdiction and handle the majority of cases, federal courts intervene in specific scenarios such as when the U.S. is a party, constitutional violations occur, or in cases involving interstate disputes over significant amounts. The script emphasizes the cooperative nature of these courts, each recognizing the other's jurisdiction, and introduces LegalYou as a resource for legal preparation.

Takeaways

• 🏛️ The U.S. has a dual court system where state and federal courts operate separately but can enforce each other's laws.
• 🤔 Jurisdiction is a key concept, defining the court's power to hear certain types of cases.
• 📚 State courts generally have broader jurisdiction and handle a wider variety of cases than federal courts.
• 📊 State courts process approximately 90% of the total caseload, dealing with the majority of ordinary cases.
• ⚖️ Federal courts intervene in special cases, such as those involving the U.S. as a party or direct violations of the Constitution and federal laws (Federal Question Jurisdiction).
• 💼 Federal courts also have jurisdiction over cases involving disputes between citizens of different states with claims over $75,000 (diversity jurisdiction).
• 💡 Federal jurisdiction extends to areas like bankruptcy, patenting, copyrighting, and maritime law.
• 🚫 If a state law conflicts with federal law or the Constitution, it can be challenged in state court.
• 🤝 Both state and federal courts work in tandem, recognizing each other's jurisdiction without one being superior to the other.
• 🆘 LegalYou is a resource mentioned for helping individuals prepare for legal matters, whether at the state or federal level.

Q & A

What was the initial concern of the states when forming the new federal government?

The initial concern was how much of their hard-won independence they would have to give up to the new federal government.

What is the term for the overlapping system of government in the United States?

The overlapping system of government in the United States is referred to as a 'federal system'.

How many branches does the federal government consist of?

The federal government consists of three branches: the executive, the legislative, and the judicial.

What is the role of state courts in the American legal system?

State courts handle their own state laws and a broad variety of cases, including those not specifically within federal jurisdiction.

What is the significance of the term 'jurisdiction' in the context of courts?

Jurisdiction refers to the court's power to hear certain kinds of cases, determining which court is appropriate for a particular legal matter.

Why might a case be heard in federal court instead of state court?

A case might be heard in federal court due to Federal Question Jurisdiction, involving the U.S. as a party or violations of the Constitution or federal laws, or Diversity Jurisdiction, involving parties from different states with claims over $75,000.

What percentage of the total caseload do state courts typically handle?

State courts handle approximately 90% of the total caseload, which is about 30 times the number of cases federal courts handle annually.

Can state courts enforce federal laws?

Yes, state courts can enforce federal laws, as they have the power to hear a variety of cases, including those involving federal law.

What types of cases does federal jurisdiction cover that are not directly violations of federal law?

Federal jurisdiction covers cases involving bankruptcy, patenting, copyrighting, and maritime law, even if they do not directly involve a violation of federal law.

How do state and federal courts interact when there is a conflict between state and federal laws?

If a state law violates federal law, this can be argued in state court, but it's important to remember that both courts work side-by-side and neither is inherently superior.

What is the purpose of LegalYou as mentioned in the script?

LegalYou is there to help individuals prepare for legal matters, whether they are dealing with local state courts or the federal court system.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Dual Government System in the US

This paragraph discusses the unique structure of the American government, which emerged after the colonies declared independence from Britain. It highlights the establishment of a federal system where states retain their own governments while also being part of a larger federal government. The federal government, consisting of executive, legislative, and judicial branches, operates alongside state governments, each with its own laws and courts. The concept of jurisdiction is introduced, explaining that state courts generally have broader jurisdiction and handle the majority of cases, while federal courts intervene in specific instances such as when the United States is a party in a case, or when there are violations of the Constitution or federal laws. The paragraph also mentions 'diversity jurisdiction' and other areas under federal court's purview, emphasizing the cooperative relationship between state and federal courts.

Keywords

💡Independence

Independence refers to the state of being free from outside control or support, which is a central theme in the video script as it discusses the historical context of the United States' break from British rule. The script mentions that after declaring independence, the colonies had to determine how much of this newly won independence they would cede to the federal government, highlighting the ongoing tension between state and federal autonomy.

💡Constitution

The Constitution is the supreme law of the United States, establishing the framework for the federal government. The video script notes that until the Constitution was agreed upon, there was significant debate over the balance of power between state and federal governments. It underscores the importance of the Constitution in defining the roles and jurisdictions of different governmental entities.

💡Federal Government

The federal government is the national governing body of a country, distinct from state or local governments. In the context of the video, the federal government is described as having its own laws and courts, separate from those of individual states. It operates alongside state governments, emphasizing the dual nature of the American system of governance.

💡State Governments

State governments are the governing bodies of individual states within a federal system. The script highlights that each state has its own government with its own laws and courts, which operate in parallel to the federal government. This concept is crucial to understanding the division of power and jurisdiction in the U.S. legal system.

💡Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction is the authority of a court to hear and decide cases. The video script explains that jurisdiction is a key factor in determining whether a case is heard in state or federal court. It is the power that allows courts to handle certain types of cases, which is essential for understanding the分流 of legal matters between state and federal courts.

💡State Courts

State courts are judicial bodies that operate within the boundaries of a state and handle cases according to state laws. The script points out that state courts have broad jurisdiction and handle the majority of cases, which is about 90% of the total caseload. This highlights their central role in the American judicial system.

💡Federal Courts

Federal courts are judicial bodies that operate under the authority of the U.S. Constitution and federal laws. The video script explains that federal courts have more specialized jurisdiction, taking over in cases involving the United States as a party or direct violations of the Constitution or federal statutes. This distinction is important for understanding the scope of federal judicial power.

💡Federal Question Jurisdiction

Federal Question Jurisdiction is a type of jurisdiction that allows federal courts to hear cases involving federal law or the U.S. Constitution. The video script uses this term to illustrate the specific circumstances under which federal courts have authority, such as when the United States is a party to a case.

💡Diversity Jurisdiction

Diversity Jurisdiction refers to the authority of federal courts to hear cases between parties from different states where the amount in controversy exceeds a certain threshold, currently $75,000. The script mentions this to show another instance where federal courts can exercise jurisdiction, distinct from state courts.

💡Bankruptcy, Patenting, Copyrighting, Maritime Law

These terms represent specific areas of law that fall under federal jurisdiction, as mentioned in the video script. Bankruptcy cases involve financial reorganization under federal law, patenting and copyrighting relate to intellectual property rights, and maritime law covers legal matters related to navigation and commerce on the high seas. These examples illustrate the specialized nature of federal court jurisdiction.

💡LegalYou

LegalYou is mentioned in the script as a resource to help individuals prepare for legal matters, whether they are dealing with local state courts or the federal level. This term is used to emphasize the support available to navigate the complexities of the U.S. legal system, suggesting that there are services designed to assist with the challenges presented by the dual court system.

Highlights

The colonies declared independence from Britain, leading to a complex relationship between state and federal governments.

The Constitution's agreement was crucial for defining the balance of power between states and the federal government.

The U.S. has a dual government system with both state and federal governments operating separately.

The federal government consists of three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.

Each state has its own laws and court system, parallel to the federal laws and courts.

State and federal courts can enforce each other's laws, adding to the complexity of the judicial system.

State courts generally have broader jurisdiction and handle a larger variety of cases.

Federal courts handle special cases such as those involving the United States as a party or violations of the Constitution.

Diversity jurisdiction allows federal courts to hear cases between parties from different states with claims over $75,000.

Federal jurisdiction includes cases related to bankruptcy, patenting, copyrighting, and maritime law.

State courts can argue cases where state laws conflict with federal laws or the Constitution.

Federal and state courts operate side by side, with neither being inherently superior to the other.

Both federal and state courts recognize each other's potential jurisdiction over cases.

LegalYou assists in preparing for court appearances, whether local or federal.

Transcripts

Since the colonies got together and declared

independence from Britain, the state governments have had

an interesting relationship.

In fact, until the Constitution was agreed upon,

there was a lot fighting over just how much

of this independence

that these states had just fought for

would have to be given up to the new federal government

they were creating.

The structure they came up with is two-in-one--

an overlapping system where each state had

its own government,

and the new country had one as well--

separate and apart from the state governments.

We call that government the "federal government."

And by "government," we mean all three branches--

the executive, the legislative, and, of course, the judicial,

which are the court systems.

So each state has its own laws and its own courts,

and the federal government has its own laws and courts.

And just to make it extra complicated,

either court-- state or federal--

can enforce the laws made by the other.

It can be confusing because sometimes

the federal courthouse is right across the street

from the state courthouse.

Which one is the right one for you?

The answer depends on the court's jurisdiction.

"Jurisdiction" is the court's power

to hear certain kinds of cases.

The rule of thumb is that state courts

have the broadest jurisdiction.

It may be the opposite of what you would guess,

but the state courts have the power

to hear a much bigger variety of cases than federal courts.

So the majority of ordinary cases

are most likely to be tried in state court.

State courts handle about 30 times the cases

the federal court does every year,

which works out to around 90% of the total caseload.

But federal court will take over in special situations.

For example, federal courts have jurisdiction over cases

where the United States is involved as a party,

and cases involving direct violations

of the US Constitution or federal statutes.

This is called "Federal Question Jurisdiction."

Federal courts can also hear cases between people

from different states if it's for an amount over $75,000.

This is called "diversity jurisdiction."

Federal jurisdiction also covers cases

dealing with bankruptcy, patenting, copyrighting,

or maritime law-- that's the ocean.

However, if a state law violates a federal law

or the Constitution, this can be argued in state court.

But it's important to remember that federal and state court

work side-by-side and one is not superior to the other.

Each recognizes the other's potential jurisdiction

over a case.

Whether you're going to court locally

or dealing with the big guys,

LegalYou is there to help you prepare for it all.