Article Three Of The United States Constitution
Article Three of the United States Constitution
Article Three of the United States Constitution establishes the judicial branch of the federal government. This crucial component of the United States Constitution is primarily concerned with the judiciary, which encompasses the Supreme Court of the United States and other federal courts that Congress may establish. It is through this article that the federal judiciary derives its judicial power.
Structure and Provisions
Article Three is composed of three sections, each detailing specific aspects of the federal judiciary.
Section 1: Judicial Power
Section 1 vests the judicial power of the United States in one supreme Court and such inferior courts as Congress may from time to time ordain and establish. This section underscores the independence of the judiciary by stating that judges, both of the supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their offices during good behavior, effectively granting lifetime tenure unless they are impeached and removed. Moreover, it ensures that judges' compensation cannot be diminished during their continuance in office, safeguarding against legislative or executive pressure.
Section 2: Judicial Power and Jurisdiction
Section 2 delineates the scope of the judicial power, extending to all cases, in law and equity, arising under the Constitution, the laws of the United States, and treaties made under their authority. It specifies various types of cases, such as those affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and controversies to which the United States shall be a party. Importantly, it provides for original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls, and those in which a state shall be a party. In all other cases mentioned, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction.
Furthermore, Section 2 guarantees the right to a jury trial for all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, and specifies that such trials shall be held in the state where the said crimes have been committed.
Section 3: Treason
Section 3 defines the crime of treason against the United States as consisting only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. It requires the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or a confession in open court, for a conviction. The section allows Congress to declare the punishment for treason, but it also limits the punishment so that it does not result in corruption of blood or forfeiture beyond the life of the person attained.
Impact and Interpretation
The provisions in Article Three serve as a foundation for the American judicial system and have been subject to various interpretations and expansions through landmark Supreme Court decisions. The establishment of judicial review, although not explicitly stated in Article Three, was affirmed by the landmark case Marbury v. Madison, which allows the judiciary to invalidate legislation or executive actions that are contrary to the Constitution.
The robust framework established by Article Three ensures the independent and impartial operation of the judiciary, a critical component of the system of checks and balances inherent in the United States government.