Who decides how many federal courts we have?

Question

I was reading the Constitution, and this question just sort of popped into my head. I would think that the answer would be somewhere in Article III, but I just can't find it, is it just me?

Answer 1

Congress sets up the rest of the federal court system


"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."

Answer 2

Basically, the Constitution says very little about the actual composition of the judicial system. It provides that there will be a Supreme Court and some details about its jurisdiction. The remainder of the rules -- including the number of justices on the Supreme Court, the number and jurisdiction of other appellate courts, the number and jurisdiction of trial courts, and the number of judges on such other appellate and trial courts are all to be determined by statute. In other words, by Congress and the President in his legislative role.