Authority for the federal and state judicial systems?

The authority for the federal and state judicial systems is found in the US and state Constitutions. Below is a breakdown of the courts as authorized under Articles I, II, and III of the US Constitution. State constitutions are modeled after the US Constitution and generally establish a similar state-court structure.

Article I Authorizes the Judiciary?

Article I of the Constitution creates the legislative branch of the Federal Government. Pursuant to the authorization of Article I, Section 8, Congress has the authority to constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court.

Also, pursuant to Article III, Section I, Congress has the authority to create legislative courts and a limited ability to delegate law-making authority to other branches.

In J. W. Hampton, Jr. & Company v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that Congress has the latitude to delegate regulatory powers to executive agencies as long as it provides an “intelligible principle” to govern the agency’s exercise of the delegated authority.

As such, Congress delegates to the administrative agencies the responsibility for formulating regulations to effectuate and expand upon the statutes passed by Congress.

These agencies, under the supervision of the executive branch, establish administrative courts to adjudicate disputes arising pursuant to agency regulations.