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United States Government - Coggle Diagram
United States Government
Judicial Branch
Federal Court System
U.S. Supreme Court
Federal Courts of Appeals
No 'original jurisdiction,' meaning these courts can only decide on appeals cases, and do not hear a case for the first time
Federal District Courts
Lowest level in the federal court system
Where most cases are heard for the first time, no 'appellate jurisdiction,' meaning they cannot hear appeals
94 judicial districts
in all 50 states and 5 territories
Other Federal Trial Courts
US Court of International Trade
US Court of Federal Claims
US Tax Court
Also known as "Circuit Courts," so when you hear "Ninth Circuit Court" for example, it is referring to cases being heard in the Court of Appeals for CA, AZ, NV, WA, MT, ID, AK, HI
Immediate level in the federal court system
13 Appellate Courts
geographically divided
Made up of eight Associate Justices and one Chief Justice
Highest level in the federal court system
Federal court judges in each of these categories are nominated by the President and confirmed by a simple majority in the US Senate. They are appointed for a life term, and can only be removed by impeachment.
State Court System
State Supreme Court
State Courts of Appeals
State Circuit Courts
Number of Judicial Circuits vary by state
These are trial courts that hear civil and criminal cases
Number of Appellate Districts vary by state
These courts review the decisions made by the state circuit courts
Executive Branch
Executive Offices of the President
Council of Economic Advisers
Council on Environmental Quality
National Security Council
Office of Management and Budget
Office of National Drug Control Policy
Office of Science and Technology
Office of the US Trade Representative
Office of the President
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Indirectly elected to office by winning an absolute majority of 270+ votes in the Electoral College.
Office of the Vice President
Chosen by the President when (s)he is the nominee, and approved by the Party's national committee
Executive Departments
[U.S. Cabinet]
Department of Agriculture
Department of Commerce
Department of Defense
Department of Education
Department of Energy
Department of Health and Human Services
Department of Homeland Security
Department of Housing and Urban Development
Department of Justice
Department of Labor
Department of State
Department of the Interior
Department of the Treasury
Department of Transportation
Department of Veterans Affairs
Cabinet members are nominated by the President and must be approved by a simple majority of the Senate
Independent Bodies
Regulatory Commissions [ex. EPA, CFPB]
Intelligence Agencies [ex. CIA, DNI]
Cultural Agencies [ex. NASA, Smithsonian]
Essential Services [ex. USPS, Soc. Security]
Legislative Branch
Federal Legislative Body
Congress
U.S. Senate
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Two elected Senators per state, totaling 100 Senators
A Senate term is six years with no limit to the number of terms a Senator can serve
U.S. House of Representatives
435 elected Representatives divided among the 50 states in proportion to population
A Representative term is 2 years with no limit to the number of terms served
Legislative Branch Agencies
House Office of the Clerk
Library of Congress
Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
House Office of Inspector General
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
Government Publishing Office
Office of Compliance
Government Accountability Office
Open World Leadership Center
Copyright Office
Stennis Center for Public Service
Congressional Research Service
US Botanic Garden
Congressional Budget Office
US Capitol Police
Architect of the Capitol
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies
US Capitol Visitor Center
State Legislative Body
Senate
Number of senators vary by state
House of Representatives
Number of representatives vary by state
Every state except Nebraska has a 'bicameral' or two branch legislature
