Which statement about the federal court system is true?

Which statement about the federal court system is true?

• A. District courts hear only criminal cases
• B. The Supreme Court decides all constitutional questions
• C. Court of Appeals decisions have no binding effect outside their circuit
• D. The Supreme Court's decisions take precedence over state law

Answer: (D)

The key idea is the hierarchy between federal and state law: under the Supremacy Clause, federal law and the Constitution take precedence over conflicting state law. That means when a federal rule or a Supreme Court interpretation clashes with a state law, the federal rule controls. Supreme Court decisions set nationwide standards, so they override state law where there’s a conflict. The other statements don’t fit because federal district courts handle both criminal and civil cases, not only criminal; the Supreme Court doesn’t automatically decide every constitutional question, though it has ultimate authority to interpret the Constitution; and Court of Appeals decisions are binding within their own circuit, not only persuasive elsewhere.

The key idea is the hierarchy between federal and state law: under the Supremacy Clause, federal law and the Constitution take precedence over conflicting state law. That means when a federal rule or a Supreme Court interpretation clashes with a state law, the federal rule controls. Supreme Court decisions set nationwide standards, so they override state law where there’s a conflict.

The other statements don’t fit because federal district courts handle both criminal and civil cases, not only criminal; the Supreme Court doesn’t automatically decide every constitutional question, though it has ultimate authority to interpret the Constitution; and Court of Appeals decisions are binding within their own circuit, not only persuasive elsewhere.