Article III - The Judicial Branch

Section 1 - Judicial powers


The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated Times, receive for their Services a Compensation which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.


Section 2 - Trial by Jury, Original Jurisdiction, Jury Trials


(The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their Authority; to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls; to all Cases of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction; to Controversies to which the United States shall be a Party; to Controversies between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another State; between Citizens of different States; between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of different States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States, Citizens or Subjects.) (This section in parentheses is modified by the 11th Amendment.)


In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.


The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment, shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall be held in the State where the said Crimes shall have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place or Places as the Congress may by Law have directed.

Section 3 - Treason


Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.


The Congress shall have power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

A Short Summary of Article III

The people at the Constitutional Convention wanted a justice system, so they created Article III about the judicial branch. Article III was ratified on September 17, 1787 along with the rest of the Constitution. This article states that the judicial branch is headed by the Supreme Court and made up smaller courts within the states. It tells us that the judges of the Supreme Court shall hold their office for life or under good behavior. They have the power to look at laws made by Congress to see if they are Constitutional or not. This is called judicial review. The judges can also force ambassadors to resign upon what they have done.

Another thing that they can do is punish citizens for treason. Treason is when a citizen gives aid or comfort to their country's enemy. Someone accused of treason will be punished but the court cannot punish their children. This is Article III's purpose. 





  

The Importance of Article III

There are many reasons why this article is important today. This article is important because it tells us our rights in order for a fair trial. It also defines the power given to the Supreme Court. The article tells us that they can review all laws. That is important because in doing so, they are seeing if the law fits the needs of the country’s many citizens.




Another thing stated in Article III is the right of the Supreme Court to punish anyone who commits treason. People who help out our enemies should be punished because they have betrayed our country and its people. These are just some of the many reasons why this article is important today in our lives.