What term describes a court system composed of both federal and state courts?

The term that describes a court system composed of both federal and state courts is the dual court system. This concept emphasizes the separation of judicial authority between the federal and state levels, where each has its own courts, laws, and jurisdiction. The federal court system handles issues arising under federal law or constitutional matters, while state courts manage cases involving state laws. This structure allows for a diversity of legal interpretations and approaches to justice, reflecting the different legal standards and priorities that may exist from one jurisdiction to another.

The other terms listed do not accurately capture this unique framework. A unitary court system implies a single, centralized structure without separate state and federal jurisdictions. An integrated court system suggests a blending of state and federal courts into a unified system, which does not exist in practice. A hierarchical court system refers more broadly to the arrangement of courts within a single system, ranking them from lower to higher courts, but does not indicate the separation between federal and state levels. Hence, the dual court system is the correct identifier for the coexistence of both federal and state courts within the American judicial framework.