AP Government-Judicial Branch Flashcards

12044565493	jurisdiction	the authority of the courts to hear certain cases	0
12044565494	appellate jurisdiction	courts that hear reviews or appeals of decisions from the lower courts have this	1
12044565495	Federal District Court	94 courts (every state, including Puerto Rico and DC, have at least 1) 700 judges original jurisdiction, any type of federal civil or criminal cases created by Judiciary Act of 1789	2
12044565496	Court of Appeals	13 courts 200 judges appellate ONLY created in 1891	3
12044565497	Supreme Court	only required court by Constitution 1 court 9 judges-set in 1869 mostly appellate jurisdiction; rarely original jurisdiction	4
12044565498	constitutional courts	the federal courts created by Congress under Article III of Constitution	5
12044565499	legislative courts	created by Congress include territorial courts, the U.S. Tax Court, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces	6
12044565500	Appointment of SC Justices	President approved by Senate	7
12044565501	Qualifications of SC Justices	None	8
12044565502	term of office for SC Justices	life when they have "good behavior" can retire	9
12044565503	removal of supremes	impeachment and conviction death resignation	10
12044565510	accepting cases	thousands are appealed each year; they pick a couple hundred they want to hear	11
12044565511	why are most cases denied?	justices think lower court's decision was right	12
12044565513	brief	a detailed statement of the facts of a case supporting their position; written by each side before case	13
12044565514	amicus curiae	friends of the court; people who come to support or reject arguments of the case	14
12044565516	majority opinion	explains the court's decision and its reason if chief justice votes w/ majority, chief selects who writes opinion (or writes it himself)	15
12044565517	Precedents	which are standards or guides to be followed in deciding similar cases in the future (common sense)	16
12044565521	judicial restraint	court avoids making policy; wants to leave policy up to other two branches	17
12044565522	Appellate court (most important caseload of the supreme court)	They review all final decisions of district courts (except in rare cases).	18
12044565524	Original Juridiction	Jurisdiction of a court that hears a case first, usually in a trial.	19
12044565525	Judicial Review	A process by which the courts interpret the Constitution. When the courts interpret the Constitution, it allows us to understand how our founding fathers set out to run our country.	20
12044565527	Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court	Cases involving Diplomats from foreign nations, and disputes between states.	21
12044565530	Civil law	A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.	22
12044565532	Rule of four	A requirement which states that a case can only be heard by a supreme court if four justices vote to hear the case.	23
12044565533	Judicial activisim	One who believes that the Constitution is a living document whose strength lies in its flexibility and that judges should make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground by challenging the policy positions of the Congress and the President	24
12044565538	How can Congress check the courts? How can the President check the courts?	Both Congress and the President check the courts because the President appoints the judges and Congress approves that appointment.	25
12044565539	Explain the relationship between the Supreme Court and public opinion.	The supreme court has no concern for public opinion due to the lifetime position of the supreme court judges (aside from petition).	26
12044565542	What factors does the President look at when appointing a judge?	-Party affiliation -Acceptability to the Senate -Ability of the justice to win elections -Judicial experience	27
12044565545	Amicus Curiae brief	Legal briefs submitted by a "friend of the court for the purpose of raising additional points of view.	28
12044565547	Litigate	A person engaged in a lawsuit.	29
12044565548	plantiff	A person who brings a case against another in a court of law.	30
12044565550	Stare decisis	The rule of precedent, whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.	31
12044565553	What does the constitution mean by "good behavior" when it comes to Supreme Court justices?	It expects justices to be free from direct political pressures.	32
12044565554	Concurring opinion	Additional opinion in a court decision written by a member of the majority.	33
12044565555	Dissenting opinion	Judicial written opinion that contradicts the ruling of the full court.	34
12044565557	Precedent	A decision made by a higher court.	35
12044565561	Unanimous Opinion	A written opinion in which all 9 justices agree.	36