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Ap US Government: The Judiciary Flashcards

AP US Government vocabulary terms

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7632928135JudiciaryThe branch of government comprising the courts and judges who preside over them0
7632928136US Supreme CourtHigh Court with a limited original jurisdiction whose decisions may not be appealed; it serves as the court of last resort in the US judiciary1
7632928137Marbury V MadisonThe 1803 Supreme Court case that established the power of judicial review2
7632928138Judicial reviewCourt authority to determine that an action taken by any government official or governing body violates the Constitution3
7632928139Circuit courtsAlso known as courts of appeals; The middle level in the federal court structure4
7632928140Courts of AppealsIntermediate appellate courts in the federal system that review the application of law in previous decisions made by courts in the federal or state judicial system5
7632928145Stare decisisFrom the Latin "let the decision stand" the principle that binds judges to rely upon the holdings of past judges and deciding cases6
7632928146PrecedentLegal authority established by earlier cases7
7632928147Constitutional lawThe body of law that comes out of the courts in cases involving the interpretation of the Constitution8
7632928148StatuteA law enacted by Congress or by state legislators to deal with particular issues or problems, sometimes more detailed and comprehensive than the common law9
7632928149Dual court systemThe two-part judicial system such as that of the United States, which has both federal and state courts10
7632928150JurisdictionThe power of a court to hear a case and to resolve it, given to a court by either constitution or a statute11
7632928151Federal questionA question of law based on interpretation of the US Constitution, federal laws, or treaties12
7632928152Original jurisdictionThe power of a court to hear a case first, before other courts have decided it13
7632928153Appellate jurisdictionThe authority of a court to review the application or interpretation of the law and previous decisions reached by another court in a case14
7632928155Writ of certiorariLatin for "a request to make certain;" this is an order to lower courts to produce and a certified record of a case so that the appellate court can determine whether any errors occurred during trial that warrant review of the case15
7632928156Rule of fourPractice by which the Supreme Court justices determine if they will hear a case of four or more justices want to hear it16
7632928157BriefA document detailing the legal argument for the desired outcome in a court case17
7632928158Amicus curiae briefDocument submitted by parties interested in a certain case or issue in an attempt to provide the court with information that may be used to decide the case ("Friend of the court" brief)18
7632928159Concurring opinionJudicial opinion agreeing with how the majority decides the case but disagreeing with at least some of the legal interpretations or conclusions reached by the majority19
7632928160Dissenting opinionJudicial opinion disagreeing both at the majorities disposition of the case and with their legal interpretations and conclusions20
7632928161Judicial activismAn approach to judicial decision-making whereby judges apply their authority to bring about specific social goals21
7632928162Judicial restraintAn approach to judicial decision-making whereby judges seek to defer to the legislature and, thereby, to limit the exercise of their own power.22
7632928165AppellantA person who applies to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.23
7632928166AppelleeThe respondent in a case appealed to a higher court.24
7632928167Marbury v. MadisonSupreme Court case that established the court's power of judicial review.25

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