The judicial power of the United 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.

Pursuant to Article III, Congress has established intermediate appellate courts called courts of appeals, trial courts and two special jurisdiction trial courts. There are 13 courts of appeals consisting of twelve geographic regions organized as circuits and one specialized appellate court, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The trial courts are organized within each state and United States territory by judicial districts. Each judicial district includes a United States bankruptcy court as a unit of the district court. The two special trial courts are the Court of International Trade and the United States Court of Federal Claims. For additional, more detailed information about the federal judicial system, its organization and administration, and its relationship to the legislative and executive branches of the government, consult

Understanding the Federal Courts (1999)
at www.uscourts.gov/UFC99.pdf.
(Requires Adobe PDF Reader)