James Madison wrote the United States Constitution which was in turn created from the minds of those who signed said document, the Constitutional Convention. The federal courts are described in Article III (see below).
Article III:
Section. 1.
States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and
in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from
time to time ordain and establish. The Judges, both
of the supreme and inferior Courts, shall hold their
Offices during good Behaviour, and shall, at stated
Times, receive for their Services, a Compensation,
which shall not be diminished during their
Continuance in Office.
Section. 2.
The judicial Power shall extend to
all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this
Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and
Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their
Authority;-to all Cases affecting Ambassadors,
other public Ministers and Consuls;-to all Cases
of admiralty and maritime Jurisdiction;-to Controversies
to which the United States shall be a
Party;-to Controversies between two or more
States;-[between a State and Citizens of another
State;-]* between Citizens of different States,-
between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands
under Grants of different States, [and between a
State, or the Citizens thereof, and foreign States,
Citizens or Subjects.]*
In all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public
Ministers and Consuls, and those in which a
State shall be Party, the supreme Court shall have
original Jurisdiction. In all the other Cases before
mentioned, the supreme Court shall have appellate
Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such
Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the
Congress shall make.
The Trial of all Crimes, except in Cases of Impeachment;
shall be by Jury; and such Trial shall
be held in the State where the said Crimes shall
have been committed; but when not committed
within any State, the Trial shall be at such Place
or Places as the Congress may by Law have
directed.
Section. 3.
Treason against the United States,
shall consist only in levying War against them, or
in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and
Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason
unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the
same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the
Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason
shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture
except during the Life of the Person
attainted.
(*Changed by the Eleventh Amendment.)
Federal courts are part of the Judicial branch of government. Congress possesses the ability to regulate the Judiciary branch, as a whole. One specific congressional power is to create other federal courts, as well as to determine what their jurisdiction will be.
Federal district courts have jurisdiction over trials. Federal appeals courts have jurisdiction over appeals from the federal district courts.
Congress is vested with the authority to create courts "inferior" to the US Supreme Court in both Article I and Article III of the US Constitution.
Federal district courts have jurisdiction over trials. Federal appeals courts have jurisdiction over appeals from the federal district courts.
Federal district courts have jurisdiction over trials. Federal appeals courts have jurisdiction over appeals from the federal district courts.
Congress created the Federal Appellate Courts and Federal High Courts.
federal is lower
Federal district courts have jurisdiction over trials. Federal appeals courts have jurisdiction over appeals from the federal district courts.
grants Congress the authority to establish lower federal courts as it deems fit.
the federal courts are part of a legal system that includes all the courts and laws in the U.S
The two classications of courts are civil courts and criminal courts. Governmental divisions include federal, state, county, and municipal courts. A further division of federal and state courts is into trial courts and appeals courts.
the two main stes if inferior federal courts. the lower courts are called district courts and appellate courts.