[20170612]IF10669_国会授权新的美国巡回法院和地区法院法官职位.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov June 12, 2017Congressional Authorization of New U.S. Circuit and District Court JudgeshipsCongress, pursuant to its authority in Article III, Sec. 1 of the U.S. Constitution, determines through legislative action the size and structure of the federal judiciary. Congress first exercised this power with the passage of the Judiciary Act of 1789, creating a three-tiered judiciary that forms the basis for the modern structure comprised of U.S. district courts (i.e., the federal trial courts), U.S. circuit courts of appeals, and the Supreme Court. Types of Judgeships Authorized by Congress Although the Constitution provides Congress in Article I with the authority to create a variety of judgeships and courts (e.g., Congress established the bankruptcy courts in 1978), the focus of the information below is about the most common types of judgeships created by Congressthose for U.S. circuit and district courts. U.S. circuit and district courts are referred to as Article III courts because Congress created these courts pursuant to its authority in Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Judges appointed to these courts must be nominated by the President and confi