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196 CHAPTER 6 %u2022 The Federal Judiciary6.3 Organization of the Federal JudiciaryEach of the two levels in the federal system%u2014the national level and the state level%u2014 operates its own system of courts. There is a single federal judiciary for the nation and there are separate state judiciaries in each of the fifty states.Criminal and Civil CasesBoth state and federal courts have jurisdiction over two categories of law, criminal and civil.58 Criminal law covers actions that harm the community, such as committing an act of violence against another person.59 In a criminal case, the state or federal government acts as the prosecutor and tries to prove the guilt of the defendant, the party accused of a crime. Although many acts (such as murder or assault) are criminal offenses in all states, some acts (such as gambling or recreational use of marijuana) are legal in some states but not in others. Federalism also impacts sentencing: because states have their own criminal codes, the punishment for committing a crime, such as burglary, varies between states.Defendants in criminal cases, whether state or federal, are guaranteed a set of constitutional protections, including the right not to be forced to testify (Fifth Amendment), the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury, the right to confront witnesses, and the right to be represented by an attorney (Sixth Amendment).60 If criminal defendants are found %u201cnot guilty,%u201d they are protected by the double jeopardy clause (Fifth Amendment) from being tried again for the same crime.61 However, a defendant may be tried more than once for the same actions if more than one law has been broken. For example, the same offense might result in both state and federal charges if the offense breaks state and federal laws.Being convicted under a criminal statute leads to some form of punishment, such as a fine, imprisonment, or, in some cases, the death penalty.62Civil law covers cases involving private rights and relationships between individuals and groups. In a civil case, the plaintiff is the party who brings the case and argues that they have been wronged; the defendant is the party accused of violating a person%u2019s rights or breaking an agreement. In civil cases a party may be an individual, a corporation, 6.2 Concept ApplicationAmericans are less likely to approve of the Supreme Court when it makes unpopular decisions. For example, in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the Supreme Court made decisions outlawing school segregation, providing more rights for those accused of crimes, and prohibiting states from outlawing abortion. In 2010, the Court issued a ruling that campaign spending by labor unions and corporations is protected under the free speech clause of the First Amendment.Critics point out that the Court is not directly elected, but it has the immense power to overturn policies that are popular with the public and enacted by elected officials. As a result, these critics describe the Supreme Court as undemocratic because it has the final decision over a wide range of policies.After reading the scenario, please respond to A, B, and C below.A. Describe the formal power of the Supreme Court addressed in the scenario.B. In the context of the scenario, explain how the power you described in Part A protects the rights of the minority.C. Describe an action Congress could take to limit the effect of a Supreme Court decision.%u00a9 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. For review purposes only. Do not distribute.