Article
III of the U.S. Constitution
Section 1. 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.
Section 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and
equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, and
treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority;--to all cases
affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls;--to all cases of admiralty
and maritime jurisdiction;--to controversies to which the United States shall
be a party;--to controversies between two or more states;--between a state and
citizens of another state;--between citizens of different states;--between
citizens of the same state claiming lands under grants of different states, and
between a state, or the citizens thereof, and foreign states, citizens or
subjects.
In all cases
affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls, and those in which a
state shall be party, the Supreme Court shall have original jurisdiction. In
all the other cases before mentioned, the Supreme Court shall have appellate
jurisdiction, both as to law and fact, with such exceptions, and under such
regulations as the Congress shall make.
The trial of
all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by jury; and such trial
shall be held in the state where the said crimes shall have been committed; but
when not committed within any state, the trial shall
be at such place or places as the Congress may by law have directed.
Section 3. Treason against the
United States, shall consist only
in levying war against them, or
in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person
shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the
same overt act, or on confession in open court.
The Congress
shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of
treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of
the person attainted.