Final answer:
The main difference between legislative courts and federal courts is that federal courts derive their authority from the Constitution, while legislative courts derive their authority from Congress.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main difference between legislative courts and federal courts is that federal courts derive their authority from the Constitution, while legislative courts derive their authority from Congress. Federal courts, such as U.S. district courts, appellate courts, and the Supreme Court, oversee national issues, while legislative courts deal with specialized subjects assigned by Congress.
Additionally, it's important to note that federal court judges serve for life, whereas legislative court judges may serve limited terms. Therefore, the correct answer is (C) Federal courts derive their authority from the Constitution; legislative courts derive their authority from Congress.