Article III of the Constitution established the judicial branch of government with the creation of the Supreme Court. This court is the highest court in the country and is charged with the judicial powers of the government. 

Courts decide arguments about the meaning of laws, how they are applied, and whether they violate the Constitution. The latter power is known as judicial review and it is this process that the judiciary uses to provide checks and balances on the legislative and executive branches.

Lower federal courts include the U.S. Courts of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts. 

This site focuses on federal courts, but each state also has a judicial branch.