06. Key Terms - The Supreme Court

Question 1

The authority of a court to hear an appeal from a lower court

Answer 1

Appellate jurisdiction

Question 2

Unwritten tradition where the Senate won’t confirm nominations for lower court positions that are opposed by a senator of the president’s own party from the state in which the nominee is to serve.

Answer 2

Senatorial courtesy

Question 3

An order by the Supreme Court telling a lower court to send up the record in a given case for its review

Answer 3

Writ of certiorari

Question 4

The Supreme Court will hear a case if four justices agree to it

Answer 4

Rule of 4

Question 5

This person is responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the U.S. government to the Supreme Court

Answer 5

Solicitor general

Question 6

A friend of the court brief filed by an interest group or interested party to influence a Supreme Court decision

Latin for “a friend cares”

Answer 6

Amicus curiae brief

Question 7

The vast majority of Supreme Court decisions are based on precedents established in earlier cases

Latin phrase meaning “let the decision stand”

Answer 7

Stare decisis

Question 8

Philosophy that the Supreme Court should use precedent and the Framers’ original intent to decide cases

Answer 8

Judicial restraint

Question 9

Philosophy that the Supreme Court must correct injustices when other branches of the government or the states refuse to do so

Answer 9

Judicial activism

Question 10

Obama (D) is president and John (D) is a senator. The Senate won’t confirm nomination for a lower court position in Alabama if John, who’s from Alabama, refuses. This is an example of:

Answer 10

Senatorial courtesy

Question 11

Mr. Murphy asks the Supreme Court to review a case . Josh, Randy, Asia, Cristina, Carl-El, LaCita, Marissa, Nina, Mimi, and Angela are all Supreme Court justices. Randy, Cristina, LaCita, and Nina agree to hear Murphy’s case. This rule is called:

Answer 11

Rule of 4

Question 12

The Supreme Court heard about an unfair case and with their authority, wished to review this case from the lower court. This authority is called:

Answer 12

Appellate jurisdiction

Question 13

The Supreme Court ordered to review a Florida lawsuit. What would be the name of this order?

Answer 13

Writ of certiorari

Question 14

Mr. Bedell handles all appeals for the U.S. government to the Supreme Court. His job occupation is called a:

Answer 14

Solicitor general

Question 15

If Raymond got arrested for selling drugs, and the police took his phone without warrant, then AT&T can come in as an interest group and defend his case. This type of brief is:

Answer 15

Amicus curiae brief

Question 16

In 1974, the case United States v. Nixon, it was ruled that there’s no constitutional guarantee of unqualified executive privilege.

If Obama wants to argue this, the Supreme Court can refer back to this case and “let the decision stand”. This is called:

Answer 16

Stare decisis