Section 1.
♦ Judicial power vested in one supreme court and such inferior courts as Congress may establish
♦ Judges shall hold office for life (during good behavior)
♦ Judges will be paid and their compensation can’t be lowered during their term in office.
Section 2. Jurisdiction of the federal courts
♦ Cases based on the Constitutional or any federal laws or treaties
♦ Cases involving ambassadors & other public ministers & consuls
♦ Cases relating to admiralty and/or maritime law
♦ Controversies between two or more states
♦ Controversies between citizens of different states
♦ The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction (meaning the case is actually tried before the court) in cases affecting ambassadors (et al) and in cases where a state is a party
♦ In all other cases, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction
♦ Jury trial mandate for all crimes except impeachment
♦ Trial to be held in the state where the crime is committed
Section 3. Treason
♦ Treason is either levying war against the U.S. or “adhering to” or giving aid and comfort to enemies of the U.S.
♦ To be convicted of treason requires either:
◊ The testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or
◊ Confession in open court
♦ Congress has the power to determine the punishment for Treason; however such punishment may not forbid the guilty party’s family from inheriting his property, nor require forfeiture of such property for longer than the life of the guilty party.
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