Chapter 1: The Federal Courts System
CHAPTER 1:
THE FEDERAL
COURTS SYSTEM
As established by the Constitution, the federal courts constitute one of three co-equal
branches of our national government. The other two branches are the executive and
legislative branches. Unlike members of the executive and legislative branches (i.e.,
president, vice president, senators, and representatives) who are elected for a set
number of years, members of the judiciary and the Court of International Trade are
appointed for life, as set forth in Article III of the Constitution. U.S. Supreme Court
justices, U.S. Court of Appeals (USCA) judges, and U.S. District Court (USDC)
judges are appointed to office by the president, with the approval of the Senate. Judges
are subject to removal from office only through impeachment, as provided in the
Constitution. The Constitution also prohibits lowering the pay of federal judges. These
two forms of protection allow federal judges to make decisions, even unpopular ones,
without fear of removal from office or reduction of salary.
12/19/97
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