1136 Definitions Flashcards
practice of using appointments to reward service
patronage
preliminary election held to select candidates and/or delegates to party conventions
direct primary
military advisers to the President
Joint Chiefs of Staff
chief law officer of the U.S.
Attorney General
presidential candidate supported mainly by his own state
favorite son
civilian head of armed forces
Secretary of Defense
“fourth branch of government”
regulatory commissions
statement of principles adopted by a political party
Platform
Group that performs a variety of tasks for the President
Executive Office of the President
Civil aeronautics board Federal communications commission Federal trade commission Interstate commerce commission National labor relations board Securities and exchange commission
Regulatory commissions
Council of economic advisers
National security council
Office of management and budget
White House office
EOP
or
Executive Office of the President
Secretary of Defense
Secretary of State
Secretary of Agriculture
Attorney General
Cabinet positions
practice of following precedents established in previous court cases
stare decisis
___________
highest civil government authority
state
minor criminal offense
misdemeanor
serious criminal offense
felony
statutory law dealing with offenses against society
criminal law
private law regulating relationships between private citizens or organizations
civil law
hears cases for the first time
court of first instance
hears appeals of lower court decisions
appellate court
limiting of certain cases to federal court jurisdiction
exclusive jurisdiction
sharing of jurisdiction between state and federal courts
concurrent jurisdiction
any court order directing a person to do or not do some act
writ
Supreme Court order requesting records from a lower court
writ of certiorari
_______
suits between parties from different states involving more than $50,000
diversity cases
“with all judges present”
en banc
______
agrees with the conclusion, but not necessarily the reasoning, of the majority
concurring opinion
disagrees with the majority opinion
dissenting opinion
statement of opinion going beyond the conclusions necessary to support the decision
obiter dictum
__________
body of judge-made law involving application of precedents
common law
written rules of conduct enacted by a legislative body
statutory law
regulations made by agencies
administrative law
written code of rules and procedures applied by the court
civil law
preventative justice to enforce a legal duty or to prevent a rights violation
equity law
argument pertaining to the case before the Court and written by a “friend of the court”
amicus curiae brief
_______________
disagrees with the opinion of the majority of the Supreme Court justices
dissenting opinion
agrees with the conclusion of the majority of the Supreme Court justices
concurring opinion
document containing a summary of the issues, laws pertaining to the case, and arguments supporting the party’s position
brief
handle preliminary matters
commissioners
perform routine court jobs
clerks, bailiffs, stenographers, court reporters, probation officers
maintain order, guard prisoners, etc.
U.S. marshalls
are under the supervision of the Attorney General
U.S. District Attorneys
order requiring appearance in court of a detained person
writ of habeas corpus
____________
order requiring a public official to perform some duty
writ of mandamus
________
order requiring or preventing a certain action
writ of injunction
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
President
casts tie-breaking vote in Senate
is elected by the electoral college
presides over the Senate
is provided for in the Constitution
Vice-President
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
Supreme Court
