Final answer:
The U.S. Constitution established the Supreme Court and allowed Congress to create a system of lower federal courts. Congress controls the structure of the federal judiciary and has tools such as rewriting laws to check judicial decisions. Judicial independence is maintained by life terms and non-reducible salaries for judges.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding the Federal Court System
The United States federal court system was established to handle cases pertaining to federal laws and issues that transcend state jurisdictions. Under the Constitution, the Supreme Court was the only court created directly by the document itself, reflecting the judicial power of the United States. Congress was granted the authority to form a system of lower courts and has done so throughout history. The first significant act was the Federal Judiciary Act of 1789, which created the basic structure of the lower court system, including district courts and circuit courts. The number of justices on the Supreme Court and the structure of the lower courts have evolved over time based on Acts of Congress.
Judges of the federal courts, including those on the Supreme Court, hold their positions for life under good behavior, ensuring independence from the other branches of government. Their salaries cannot be decreased while they are in office, safeguarding them from economic coercion. Congress can exert influence over the judiciary by altering the federal court structure and its appellate jurisdiction, confirming or rejecting judicial appointments, and by rewriting laws to circumvent court decisions, or even proposing constitutional amendments.
Moreover, in the Marbury v. Madison case of 1803, the Supreme Court established the principle of judicial review, the ability to declare laws unconstitutional, acting as a check on congressional power. Yet, Congress retains the ability to respond and can use its legislative power to address rulings by restructuring laws or adjusting the jurisdiction and composition of the courts.