<Ul> <Li> In common law jurisdictions , courts interpret law ; this includes constitutions , statutes , and regulations . They also make law ( but in a limited sense , limited to the facts of particular cases ) based upon prior case law in areas where the legislature has not made law . For instance , the tort of negligence is not derived from statute law in most common law jurisdictions . The term common law refers to this kind of law . </Li> <Li> In civil law jurisdictions , courts interpret the law , but are prohibited from creating law , and thus do not issue rulings more general than the actual case to be judged . Jurisprudence plays a similar role to case law . </Li> <Li> In the United States court system , the Supreme Court is the final authority on the interpretation of the federal Constitution and all statutes and regulations created pursuant to it , as well as the constitutionality of the various state laws ; in the US federal court system , federal cases are tried in trial courts , known as the US district courts , followed by appellate courts and then the Supreme Court . State courts , which try 98 % of litigation , may have different names and organization ; trial courts may be called `` courts of common plea '' , appellate courts `` superior courts '' or `` commonwealth courts '' . The judicial system , whether state or federal , begins with a court of first instance , is appealed to an appellate court , and then ends at the court of last resort . </Li> <Li> In France , the final authority on the interpretation of the law is the Council of State for administrative cases , and the Court of Cassation for civil and criminal cases . </Li> <Li> In the People 's Republic of China , the final authority on the interpretation of the law is the National People 's Congress . </Li> <Li> Other countries such as Argentina have mixed systems that include lower courts , appeals courts , a cassation court ( for criminal law ) and a Supreme Court . In this system the Supreme Court is always the final authority , but criminal cases have four stages , one more than civil law does . On the court sits a total of nine justices . This number has been changed several times . </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> In common law jurisdictions , courts interpret law ; this includes constitutions , statutes , and regulations . They also make law ( but in a limited sense , limited to the facts of particular cases ) based upon prior case law in areas where the legislature has not made law . For instance , the tort of negligence is not derived from statute law in most common law jurisdictions . The term common law refers to this kind of law . </Li> <Li> In civil law jurisdictions , courts interpret the law , but are prohibited from creating law , and thus do not issue rulings more general than the actual case to be judged . Jurisprudence plays a similar role to case law . </Li> <Li> In the United States court system , the Supreme Court is the final authority on the interpretation of the federal Constitution and all statutes and regulations created pursuant to it , as well as the constitutionality of the various state laws ; in the US federal court system , federal cases are tried in trial courts , known as the US district courts , followed by appellate courts and then the Supreme Court . State courts , which try 98 % of litigation , may have different names and organization ; trial courts may be called `` courts of common plea '' , appellate courts `` superior courts '' or `` commonwealth courts '' . The judicial system , whether state or federal , begins with a court of first instance , is appealed to an appellate court , and then ends at the court of last resort . </Li> <Li> In France , the final authority on the interpretation of the law is the Council of State for administrative cases , and the Court of Cassation for civil and criminal cases . </Li> <Li> In the People 's Republic of China , the final authority on the interpretation of the law is the National People 's Congress . </Li> <Li> Other countries such as Argentina have mixed systems that include lower courts , appeals courts , a cassation court ( for criminal law ) and a Supreme Court . In this system the Supreme Court is always the final authority , but criminal cases have four stages , one more than civil law does . On the court sits a total of nine justices . This number has been changed several times . </Li> </Ul>
who has the final authority under the federal system
who has the final authority under the federal system
the Supreme Court
the Supreme Court