7 Gr Ch 7, Les 4 Supreme Court Procedures

Question 1

When and for how long does the Supreme Court meet each year?

Answer 1

Every first Monday beginning in October and meet for 9 months

Question 2

_________________ is an order used to describe when a lower court sends its records on a case to the Supreme Court for review. In Latin, it means “to make more certain”.

Answer 2

Writ of Certiorari

Question 3

How do justices select cases that they will hear?

Answer 3

• It should involve a key constitutional question
• if courts of appeals have made different decisions on the same point of law
• it must involve legal rather than political issues
• it should affect the entire country

Question 4

How many justices must agree to accept a case for it to be heard?

Answer 4

4 out of the 9 justices

Question 5

What word means, “ a court’s calendar of cases to be heard”?

Answer 5

A docket

Question 6

The work load of cases in a period of time is called the _______.

Answer 6

Caseload

Question 7

About how many cases per year does the Spreme Court listen to compared to how many cases are appealed to them?

Answer 7

About 75-80 cases out of 10,000 cases

Question 8

What factors can affect the justices’ decisions?

Answer 8

Precedents
The nation’s social atmosphere (like changing views of segregation)
The justices’ personal views

Question 9

Some of the court’s landmark decisions are grouped into 4 categories. They are….?

Answer 9

Civil liberties
First amendment rights
Federal power
Rights of the accused

Question 10

The ____ _____ is a written document that states the facts, gives the ruling, and explains the court’s reasoning

Answer 10

Majority Opinion

Question 11

When a justice agrees with the majority decision, but for different reasons, he or she may write a separate statement called _____ _____.

Answer 11

Concurring opinion

Question 12

Justices who oppose the majority decision write a _____ _____.

Answer 12

Dissenting opinion

Question 13

When all justices agree, the court issues a _____ _____ which has a special force.

Answer 13

Unanimous opinion

Question 14

Opinions written in their first form are said to be _____.

Answer 14

Drafted

Question 15

A ________ is a written document prepared by lawyers on each side of a case that explains their position on the case.

Answer 15

A brief

Question 16

What happens after justices review and study all briefs and come up with questions?

Answer 16

Each side gets 30 minutes to present its argument of the case

Question 17

After oral arguments take place, how do the justices make their decision?

Answer 17

The meet in private.
They each take turns giving their opinion.
There must be at least 6 justices present to vote.
The majority vote decides the case.

Question 18

_____ ______ is the guiding principle that Evers to the practice of using earlier decisions to decide cases. By using precedent courts make laws predictable. In Latin, it means, “let the decision stand”.

Answer 18

Stare decisions