Usual claims are for unpaid salary, the property is taken for public use, contractual obligations, and personal injuries for which the Federal Government is allegedly responsible.

The federal judges are appointed by Congress for life, in practice, until they die, retire or resign.

Another important special court is the customs court, which has exclusive jurisdiction over cases connected with monetary problems.

The state court systems hear more cases than does the federal court system.

The Supreme Court consists of a Chief Justice and nine Associate Justices.

Congress has the authority to create and abolish federal courts as well as to determine the number of judges in the federal judicial system.

Each state has at least two district courts.

Most of the cases heard by the Supreme Court are appeals from the lower federal courts.

The Constitution states the number of judges on the Supreme Court at nine.

Most presidents appoint Supreme Court judges who share their policy preferences.