42 UNITED STATES.

The powers vested in the central government extend to all negotiations with foreign nations; main- taining and organizing the naval and military forces ; the sole regulation of foreign trade ; and all matters connected with the general revenue and finances.

TheJudicimy of the United States, or the Supreme Court of Judicature, controls the whole government, so far as to have the power of declaring not only the legislative acts of any particular State, but even those of Congress, unconstitutional, and consequently invalid. For, the people of the republic having declared the constitution to be the supreme law of the land, it is, therefore, considered entitled to implicit and general acknowledgment throughout the Union.

The Supreme Court of the republic, in which a chief-justice and six associate justices preside, holds one annual term only at the seat of government; but the whole country is divided into seven great dis- tricts or circuits, in each of which two courts are held during the year; one of the assistant judges from the Supreme Court, and the particular justices of the districts, presiding.

The jurisdiction of the Supreme Court extends to all matters in law and equity arising within the Union ; to the treaties, regulations, as well as general and particular laws of the republic; to questions affecting public ministers and consuls ; to all cases of maritime or admiralty pleas; to controversies between one State and another, or the individuals of different States; to pleas between citizens and foreign subjects ; and to all controversies where the United States are