Political scientists study and dissect the unique divisions of law making authority between the national government as a centralized power source, and the fifty state governments as local law makers, but we also care about and study national vs. state power sharing in judicial decision making as well. Just as the U.S. Constitution delegates certain powers to the Congress, it likewise assigns certain jurisdiction to the national courts.
a) What jurisdiction does the U.S. Constitution assign/delegate to the U.S.
Supreme Court? To the lower ( inferior ) U.S. Courts?
b) How does a case that commences as a state court case come to the U.S.
Supreme Court?
c) What happens when both state law and national law (including
Constitutional provisions) apply and are part of a state court s
determination? Is it reviewable by the U.S. Supreme Court?
d) What criteria does the U.S. Supreme Court use to determine whether to
review a state court decision and how has that changed over time?