Final answer:
The true statement about the dual court system is that most cases are heard in the state courts, as they have final authority in the majority of legal cases which fall under state jurisdiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The true statement about the dual court system in the United States is: B. Most cases are heard in the state courts. State courts have the final word in the overwhelming majority of legal disputes in the U.S. This is because most cases fall within state rather than federal jurisdiction. There are trial and appellate courts at both state and federal levels, but the scope of their jurisdiction differs. The U.S. Supreme Court, which sits atop both the federal and state court systems, is the final court of appeal. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, but most often hears cases on appeal either from the federal circuit courts or state supreme courts when there's a substantive federal question involved.
A state case may be heard by federal courts if it involves a federal question. However, it is not true that cases often begin in the federal system and are then sent to state courts on appeal; instead, state and federal courts typically handle different kinds of cases based on their respective jurisdictions. And while the Supreme Court has both types of jurisdictions, most states' supreme courts are not the only courts with appellate jurisdiction within their states.