1136 Definitions

Question 1

practice of using appointments to reward service

Answer 1

patronage

Question 2

preliminary election held to select candidates and/or delegates to party conventions

Answer 2

direct primary

Question 3

military advisers to the President

Answer 3

Joint Chiefs of Staff

Question 4

chief law officer of the U.S.

Answer 4

Attorney General

Question 5

presidential candidate supported mainly by his own state

Answer 5

favorite son

Question 6

civilian head of armed forces

Answer 6

Secretary of Defense

Question 7

“fourth branch of government”

Answer 7

regulatory commissions

Question 8

statement of principles adopted by a political party

Answer 8

Platform

Question 9

Group that performs a variety of tasks for the President

Answer 9

Executive Office of the President

Question 10

Civil aeronautics board
Federal communications commission
Federal trade commission
Interstate commerce commission
National labor relations board
Securities and exchange commission

Answer 10

Regulatory commissions

Question 11

Council of economic advisers
National security council
Office of management and budget
White House office

Answer 11

EOP
or
Executive Office of the President

Question 12

Secretary of Defense
Secretary of State
Secretary of Agriculture
Attorney General

Answer 12

Cabinet positions

Question 13

practice of following precedents established in previous court cases

Answer 13

stare decisis

___________

Question 14

highest civil government authority

Answer 14

state

Question 15

minor criminal offense

Answer 15

misdemeanor

Question 16

serious criminal offense

Answer 16

felony

Question 17

statutory law dealing with offenses against society

Answer 17

criminal law

Question 18

private law regulating relationships between private citizens or organizations

Answer 18

civil law

Question 19

hears cases for the first time

Answer 19

court of first instance

Question 20

hears appeals of lower court decisions

Answer 20

appellate court

Question 21

limiting of certain cases to federal court jurisdiction

Answer 21

exclusive jurisdiction

Question 22

sharing of jurisdiction between state and federal courts

Answer 22

concurrent jurisdiction

Question 23

any court order directing a person to do or not do some act

Answer 23

writ

Question 24

Supreme Court order requesting records from a lower court

Answer 24

writ of certiorari

_______

Question 25

suits between parties from different states involving more than $50,000

Answer 25

diversity cases

Question 26

"with all judges present"

Answer 26

en banc | ______

Question 27

agrees with the conclusion, but not necessarily the reasoning, of the majority

Answer 27

concurring opinion

Question 28

disagrees with the majority opinion

Answer 28

dissenting opinion

Question 29

statement of opinion going beyond the conclusions necessary to support the decision

Answer 29

obiter dictum | __________

Question 30

body of judge-made law involving application of precedents

Answer 30

common law

Question 31

written rules of conduct enacted by a legislative body

Answer 31

statutory law

Question 32

regulations made by agencies

Answer 32

administrative law

Question 33

written code of rules and procedures applied by the court

Answer 33

civil law

Question 34

preventative justice to enforce a legal duty or to prevent a rights violation

Answer 34

equity law

Question 35

argument pertaining to the case before the Court and written by a "friend of the court"

Answer 35

amicus curiae brief | _______________

Question 36

disagrees with the opinion of the majority of the Supreme Court justices

Answer 36

dissenting opinion

Question 37

agrees with the conclusion of the majority of the Supreme Court justices

Answer 37

concurring opinion

Question 38

document containing a summary of the issues, laws pertaining to the case, and arguments supporting the party's position

Answer 38

brief

Question 39

handle preliminary matters

Answer 39

commissioners

Question 40

perform routine court jobs

Answer 40

clerks, bailiffs, stenographers, court reporters, probation officers

Question 41

maintain order, guard prisoners, etc.

Answer 41

U.S. marshalls

Question 42

are under the supervision of the Attorney General

Answer 42

U.S. District Attorneys

Question 43

order requiring appearance in court of a detained person

Answer 43

writ of habeas corpus | ____________

Question 44

order requiring a public official to perform some duty

Answer 44

writ of mandamus | ________

Question 45

order requiring or preventing a certain action

Answer 45

writ of injunction

Question 46

is commander of the armed forces is elected by the electoral college exercises veto of legislative acts may call special sessions of or adjourn Congress is the representative of U.S. to rest of world is provided for in the Constitution

Answer 46

President

Question 47

casts tie-breaking vote in Senate is elected by the electoral college presides over the Senate is provided for in the Constitution

Answer 47

Vice-President

Question 48

is appointed by the President is interpreter of the Constitution writes opinions operation, composition, and organization controlled by Congress determines constitutionality of legislative acts oversees administration of justice by federal courts has both original and appellate jurisdiction holds office during "good behavior" is provided for in the Constitution

Answer 48

Supreme Court