Welcome to Federal Courts! This upper-level course features five chapters of lessons, plus 240 practice questions that you’ll find at the end of each lesson and chapter. 

The study of federal courts examines the role that federal courts play in American government, specifically how the federal courts vindicate federal rights and how federal courts relate to the other branches of the federal government and state courts. 

Distilled to its essence, the study of federal courts is a study of the struggle for power. And who doesn’t like a good power struggle? 

Chapter two, Origins and Development of the Federal Courts, covers essential background about the origins and development of the American federal court system. Here, you’ll learn about how the federal court system developed and the system’s inherent power struggles and themes. We’ll also examine the judicial function, in particular, the power of judicial review. 

Chapter three, Jurisdiction, focuses on federal court jurisdiction and the type of law that applies to various disputes, as well as the ways in which Congress is able to strip federal courts of their jurisdiction. 

Chapter four, Justiciability, addresses the requirements for and obstacles to federal court adjudication. This chapter specifically addresses five justiciability doctrines that are implicated in many federal courts’ essay questions. 

Chapter five, Actions against Government Officials, examines governmental immunity, special causes of action against government officials, and the availability of and requirements for federal writs of habeas corpus. Here, we’ll explore two important federal causes of action, Section 1983 and Bivens actions. 

Chapter six, Intergovernmental Relationships, discusses the interactions between the state and federal courts and the ways in which various statutes and judicial doctrines constrain federal courts. 

If you watch all of our lessons, take all of our quizzes, and read our Federal Courts outline, you’ll know everything you need to tackle your federal courts exam. 

Let’s get started!