Article III of the United States Constitution establishes
the judicial branch as one of the three separate and distinct branches
of the federal government. The other two are the legislative and
executive branches.
The federal courts often are called the guardians
of the Constitution because their rulings protect rights and liberties
guaranteed by the Constitution. Through fair and impartial judgments,
the federal courts interpret and apply the law to resolve disputes.
The courts do not make the laws. That is the responsibility of Congress.
Nor do the courts have the power to enforce the laws. That is the
role of the President and the many executive branch departments
and agencies.
The Founding Fathers of the nation considered an
independent federal judiciary essential to ensure fairness and equal
justice for all citizens of the United States. The Constitution
they drafted promotes judicial independence in two major ways. First,
federal judges are appointed for life, and they can be removed from
office only through impeachment and conviction by Congress of "Treason,
Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." Second, the
Constitution provides that the compensation of federal judges "shall
not be diminished during their Continuance in Office," which
means that neither the President nor Congress can reduce the salary
of a federal judge. These two protections help an independent judiciary
to decide cases free from popular passions and political influence.
02/08/02
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