Structure of the Court System: Crash Course Government and Politics #19

In which Craig Benzine talks about the structure of the U.S. court system and how exactly it manages to keep things moving smoothly. You'll learn about trial courts, district courts, appeals courts, circuit courts, state supreme courts, and of course the one at the top - the U.S. Supreme Court. It’s all quite a bit to manage with jurisdictions and such, but it's important to remember that the vast majority of cases never even make it to court! Most are settled out of court, but also terms like mootness and ripeness are used to throw cases out altogether. Today, we're going to focus on how cases make it to the top, and next week we’ll talk about what happens when they get there.
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[@MrDylan2125]

I love how efficient these videos are. They get the point across without overloading or deviating from the message. Keep up the awesome work!

[@stenbak88]

Except for the fact that almost every subject he comes across he says " we'll get to that later" which gets rather annoying since he never covers completely. I get these videos are just to get the general idea but I feel these government ones are just to important and should probably have more info. The videos are less than 7 mins for Petes sake

[@MrDylan2125]

stenbak88 It probably bothers me less than you because I did my bachelor's in political science so the blanks are already filled in my head. But I can see where it bugs you.

[@gobblox38]

stenbak88 Keep in mind that once the series is complete you will be able to hear about it right after you finish watching the video. Besides, there are several other sources to go if you'd like to learn more than what was presented. Sure, it is harder to do that and takes more time, but that is the trade off between what Crash Course offers and what you can get from more informative sources. These videos are also great for people that have already learned the subject. I've used the Chemistry series to brush up what I already know.

[@JohnyBuzzkillKidd]

PrimevalDragon Crash course not only taught me in a year what my schooling failed to do in 5, but inspired a passion for learning. The first true teacher that inspired me. I'm a better person for it and can feel it.

[@MrDylan2125]

Johny Kidd I'm glad you found a teacher who inspires you. I've been into politics since I was 9 years old, so I just naturally loved it. But it's always my hope that more people will be inspired to love it. I hope you continue to learn great things.

[@ArmageddonAngel]

Hank Green doesn't make it into the hierarchy?

[@DuranmanX]

Who the eff is Hank?

[@PintoRagazzo]

***** A small asteroid that orbits the sun in an ellipitical orbit and takes nine hundred years to complete a single lap.

[@OscarWardProduction]

ArmageddonAngel I think he was probs referring to the arts and humanities crash course which is John's thing

[@aliensinnoh1]

ArmageddonAngel Not the Indianapolis hierarchy. There's a separate hierarchy for the Missoula office.

[@TheFireflyGrave]

ArmageddonAngel I assumed he was one of the Ninja Turtles.

[@y8r113]

I freaking love Crash Course. I always come here to get quick TLDW/Rs on all sorts of important political, economic, and historical information. This will be a jewel for people in the future.

[@gatesdarryl5694]

+1

[@gatesdarryl5694]

Can't agree you more

[@Darius-us4tw]

future speaking "this is awesome"!!!

[@nitakrish9736]

the reference to unbreakable kimmy schmidt was fantastic.

[@BossChronicles]

As a political science major I'm loving this series !

[@VinsanityGaming]

Are you guys going to make a Crash Course Physics soon? I think it would be very helpful. Please thumbs up if you agree !

[@ashleydvermont]

Love these videos! Hope they do a criminal justice crash course soon!

[@giuliamaselli4880]

It would be perfect if you spoke a little bit slower... this videos are very useful also for foreign students (like me) but it's not easy to follow your explanations if you speak so fast

[@spitfirered]

Just go in your setting on the video and lower the playback speed, works every time!

[@leeflying]

i love how the only reason i watched this because we are in a lockdown now COVID19

[@nice-pm6jy]

lucky, this is a civics assignment for me

[@katiejones4596]

I’m watching all of them on 1.25x speed to cram for my AP Government exam

[@bunnymanmoe8819]

Learn something

[@arkesh110]

ikr

[@robBears96]

Gotta love a Drake reference

[@janabri_xo]

That had me cracking up!

[@brendanm7059]

I love you guys. You do such excellent work, thanks for your contributions

[@jinkservicesjinkservices4747]

Like the humor. Thank you for posting videos on the courts. I'm sure I will be revisiting.

[@youngbloodedxp1710]

I was looking for a video to help clear up the concepts for a test, and this was actually very helpful. But more importantly I got very happy when I saw that Craig a.k.a WheezyWaiter was host. :D Studying just got awwwesome!

[@maerrigo]

"So thoughtful. So bubbly." That one cracked me up. :-D

[@felipemerinoechavarriia528]

I cannot stop looking at the eagle. What did you do to deserve such treatment!?

[@Thumbsupurbum]

Felipe Merino Echavarríia If it makes you feel better, it was probably made in China.

[@williamtang899]

+flintstoned, that comment made my day.

[@elizabethbeck4071]

it was not the mongols

[@ZeeGhost713]

Flintstoned OMG LOL

[@militarymelon69]

@@Thumbsupurbum Felipe?

[@alyssahentzell9660]

Im laughing at the turtles all the way down references. Nicely placed.

[@keithharrison5726]

I love ad always learn a lot after watching a Crash Course video. I love the thought bubbles animation and dialogue also. Excellent videos

[@hixsongarren]

Hey! Kimmy Schmidt reference!

[@adrianconde996]

Same Reaction I Had

[@allenman97]

Kimmy Schmidt and Lisa's Florida costume.

[@ChristianAkacro]

Craig.. you are my favourite host now. You're hilarious. I hope you do other courses once this one is done.

[@sharkattack2903]

Questions for ms. Adays class 1. State courts 2. State courts have 2 levels of appealed courts 3. Don’t have enough time/staff 4. They always accept in the midst of a circuit split

[@amy8144]

TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN REFERENCE?!?!

[@TeamWalsh]

two years before the book came out

[@1000creation]

Thanks for the short quick healthy entertainment. Fun learning.

[@hannahcarrell8247]

I love you guys. Any chance you could do a crash course for the confusing Texas court system?

[@Gigi-hc3zp]

Great Video Craig! Your videos are really educational and really entertaining.

[@dustypipesmoker7902]

Ha! I love the Ralph Wiggum Florida costume!

[@carolineann8196]

These are how I️m currently studying for my ap gov test tomorrow, but there was a “turtles all the way down” reference over 2 years before it came out. That just made my day

[@epistax4]

Lisa's Florida Costume!!!

[@sassyTaryn]

I saw that Judge Dredd reference you sly buggers and I love you for it.

[@cecile3414]

How did I not find this channel earlier? Brilliant!

[@737215]

This was cool, can't wait for the next one!

[@tehidden]

Oh, man. I lost it when you said, "As you probably remember, 'cause you're a smart rememberer of things." Well done, sir.

[@tehidden]

Your deadpan delivery is next level.

[@34toony77]

Loving the Simpsons reference 2 minutes in!

[@Geobacter]

Awesome classic Simpsons reference. :D "I'm not a state... I'm a MONSTER!"

[@weaver2609]

my ap gov test is in 3 days thank u buddy. it doesnt hit all the points and have some stuff we didnt do (so it wont be on the test) but it was well explained

[@junew5891]

this is really helpful, thousands thumbs up for you guys !!! btw i just love your speed of speaking :> please keep it this way

[@sovonshakh2621]

loved the video !

[@karinadmcloughlin]

Great information but too fast!

[@faithkfarris]

I would love if you all made a book one day detailing all this information. Or if you even had books in the description you'd recommend for us to read that could help us better understand all things political.

[@ddaryoush16]

+Faitherie try the Baron's AP review book

[@smcpuri]

Please make a physics crash course based on the AP Physics exam. I really like these videos and would love it if there was one that I could use to study for physics.

[@MatthewQuattrochi]

Awesome video. I’m giving a speech in Brazil about the US court systems, and I’m stealing the avocado reference.

[@jacqueline8288]

Guys, if he's speaking too fast for you, there's a speed feature. Use it. Or if you can't do that, find another channel- it's called CRASH COURSE for a reason. Thank you Craig for all the wonderful work!

[@yeolebutton4233]

waving that coffee mug around like there 's no coffee in it..

[@nickrode5947]

No, really I LOVE all crash course, although I wish it were some how more organized, in a place where I can find a list of all the crash courses..

[@jacobdrum]

Also also, the case or controversy requirement (as well as "judicial review") applies to all Article III federal courts.

[@jacobdrum]

Ditto standing and mootness.

[@nessasings0]

I JUST realized what I always thought was a manta ray symbol on everything is Craig's beard..

[@val_barbell]

does crash course release word documents or outlines of this information? If so, that would be amazing.

[@erekoseonmakingamurderer4841]

Hi Crash Course, I think you guys are great. Have you considered explaining Habeas Petitions. I do believe there is a large amount of folks interested in that right now. Just a suggestion.

[@yeolebutton4233]

Woooooooo0o0ow wheezy waiter what a lovely surprise to find u here for my intro to American Politics class

[@mwong987]

Just my observation, but the material seems to be blithely paced more to impress people than to provide good, actionable teaching/learning

[@YTfancol]

Great. Thank you.

[@Samstar369]

CrashCourse, you should have some questions at the end of the video for us to answer. I feel like I should get some review over the stuff mentioned in the videos. Maybe a link in the description for questions work.

[@jbmop]

Nice simpsons reference at 2:30 thought bubble!

[@dishenahinton4510]

This was great! I love his sense of humor, HOWEVER it was extremely frustrating because he talked so fast. I had to change the speed of the video. SLOW DOWN SIR. LOL

[@alexandram4113]

loving that kimmy schmidt reference

[@sagebowen4066]

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Reference

[@AYuumoriEnjoyer]

3:42 "jesus had two dads and he turned out fine" i love this channel, man--

[@zzz.p9]

CRAAIIIIG!!! YOU THE BEST!!

[@Panda74gofaster]

Good stufff. Thank u

[@emmaammons2]

Love the turtles all the way down reference❤️🐢

[@yeolebutton4233]

Thank you for that Drake reference off the bat

[@Tryo707]

Unbreakable at 1:25?

[@1996MURADa]

Haha yea I noticed that too ! it was awesome

[@michaelfrancis0219]

Finally someone else who NOTICED it

[@nireart5325]

Please do a crash course on physics the biology is so helpful!

[@yousefdebaz9860]

0:19 turtles all the way down john Green's new book

[@chadbugansky]

Craig for President!!!

[@FieldMarshalFry]

turtles all the way down... *sniff* we still miss you Sir Pterry!

[@esterhernandez9468]

3:53 Bless you

[@tintinnarnia]

Make A series specifically on US law!

[@ebierealexandria]

I love CRASH COURSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Umirua]

I'm still waiting for those videos about ideology

[@aronhoxha3893]

the drake quote was a nice touch

[@dhhouston8486]

I love the UF Gator reference with state-level Florida judge hanging from the rope! Really random, but still awesome!

[@jasonhooy6765]

Craig: with regards to the flow of your speech, people recognize the speed feature on youtube. So go ahead and speak as you speak. Likewise, people vary in disposition and (consequently) humor. Please keep cracking jokes. It detracts little from the message and only makes this entertaining lesson more... entertaining?

[@jacqueline8288]

My thoughts exactly! Thank you for speaking out.

[@Zyberetro]

Take a shot every time the word 'court' is mentioned... RIP everyone who actually listened to this comment.

[@charmy98]

Hi there! I noticed a mistake at 2:26 when talking about diversity of citizenship. The dollar amount that qualifies the case to go to federal court is actually $75,000, not $70,000

[@Error-qs6qk]

mark,,,,,,I thought it was interesting that most cases get settled out side of court using one of these terms, mootness and ripeness.

[@kaeru_makiofficial639]

I love your videos! These always help me when I don't know something!

[@PathomponM]

Turtles All the Way Down...

[@SkyLinMegas]

Very interesting

[@Lonven]

I'm Idaho!

[@bunnymanmoe8819]

😅😅😅

[@BeaverChainsaw]

2:24 nice reference to Lisa Simpsons Florida costume

[@franug]

I admire US lawyers for being able to navegate such a complicated system. Our court system is way more straightforward!

[@franug]

we have a civil law system here in Chile. We are not a federal state, so we don't have a dual appeals court system (like in the US, where they have federal and state courts with different jurisdictions): we have one appeal court per region, and one Supreme Court. Obviously in the US lawyers must know where to go if they want to appeal a case, but from outside, it looks complicated!

[@roidroid]

Toblerone is Swiss?! (checks) wow i did not know that. cool

[@49metal]

There are a number of errors in this video, including (in the first two minutes): (1) Most states have two levels of appeals courts (an intermediate appellate court and a court "of last resort", usually called a "supreme" court), but guess what? So does the federal system. It has the same two level system as well. The video states otherwise, rather inexplicably. (2) Saying that "appeals courts can refuse to hear cases" implies that appeals courts have discretion to hear a case or not. This is sometimes true and often not true. Many cases can be appealed as of right to at least one level of review--including all criminal cases. An appellate court cannot simply choose not to hear such appeals. (3) The video claims that once an appellate court has refused to hear an appeal that the case is "done" and no further litigation is possible. This is only sometimes true. Ignoring entirely the range of collateral attacks on judgments that might be available (coram nobis, habeas corpus, etc.), even when an appellate court that can refuse to hear a case does so, the rebuffed appellant is not always "done" and can still seek review from another court (e.g., petition for writ of certiorari to the USSC after a state supreme court refuses leave to appeal). (4) You say "the loser can ALWAYS appeal, even if that loser was the state that failed in its prosecution." This is profoundly wrong. The option for a prosecutor to appeal after an "unsuccessful prosecution" is very limited. Ever heard of double jeopardy? The prosecution cannot appeal from an acquittal. Benton v. Maryland, 395 U.S. 784 (1969). The prosecution can sometimes appeal dismissals or other unfavorable pretrial outcomes. (5) Only sort of wrong: The federal circuit courts are indeed colloquially called "circuit courts" but they are actually the United States Courts of Appeals.

[@Girlo138]

I love CRAIG

[@GabrielGarcia-eg4nx]

What are the three political styles of prosecution?

[@almay9962]

is there a maxinmum number of times I can appeal for a debt collection if I am sued?

[@jennabrasuell9378]

Anyone else watching this the night before the AP Gov test?!!!

[@lorenaholbech]

That Simpsons' reference! I love Thought Bubble.

[@tjkrave5811]

his voice killed this for me, man up bud.

[@stormslasher32]

Dear Crash Course, Could you do a Course about Politics and Arts/ Sport :)

[@jadejewell7716]

Was that Florida costume Lisa Simpson when Homer failed to help her project?

[@LightStreamer]

so what is a court of claims, a circuit court, superior court vs supream, Ecclesiastical court, Admiralty court and a probate court? not to mention all the jurisdiction related to those courts. you got statutory law, admiralty law , common law, contract law, tort law, and the list goes on and on

[@narqiez4669]

lifesaver!

[@komigee]

My whole AP Govn't class explained in 7 minutes, instead of 7 months...

[@jorgealbertotorres1361]

Finally! They fixed the crooked Capitol building puzzle! It was driving me mad!

[@RomanticFrantic]

That eagle should get some animal rights

[@petermysels8644]

Turtles all the way down reference!

[@713BlackHouston]

Does the court have jurisdiction over a citizen vs. a state? And under which court would the case be tried?

[@Ladytasya]

Patrick Davis the state courts have jurisdiction unless it is citizen from a different state

[@nathanyao1233]

this guy literally reminds me of my ap gov teacher so I can't learn from him