Ch 16 Vocab

Question 0

Lawsuits permitting a small # of pol to sue on behalf of all other ppl similarly situated

Answer 0

Class action suits

Question 1

Requirement that plaintiffs have serious interest in a case, which depends on whether they sustained or are likely to sustain a direct & substantial injury from a party or action of govt

Answer 1

Standing to sue

Question 2

Requirement that to be heard a case must be capabke of being settled as a matter of lae rather than on other grounds as is commonly the case in legislative bodies

Answer 2

Justiciable disputes

Question 3

Submitted by a “friend of the court” for raising additional points of view & presenting info not contained in briefs of formal parties

Answer 3

Amicus curiae briefs

Question 4

Hears a case first, usually in trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case

Answer 4

Original jurisdiction

Question 5

Hears cases brought to them on appeal from lower courts, dont review the factual record only the legal issues

Answer 5

Appellate jurisdiction

Question 6

91 fed courts of original jurisdiction; only fed courts in which trials are held & in which juries may be impaneled

Answer 6

District courts

Question 7

Appellate courts empoweres to rview all final decisions of district courts, except in rare cases. Also hear appeals to orders of many federal refulatory agencies

Answer 7

Courts of appeal

Question 8

Pinnacle of Am judicial system; ensures uniformity in interpreting national laws, resolves conflicts among states, & maintains national supremacy in law; controls its own agenda

Answer 8

Supreme court

Question 9

Unwritten tradition whereby state nominations for state level federal judicial posts arent confirmed if theyre opposed by a senator of pres.’s party from the state in which nominee will serve

Answer 9

Senatorial courtesy

Question 10

Presidential appointee and the 3rd ranking office in the department of justice; in charge of appellate court litigation of federal govt

Answer 10

Solicitor general

Question 11

Statement of legal reasoning behind a judicial decision

Answer 11

Opinion

Question 12

“Let the decision stand”; most cases reaching appellate courts are settled on this principlep

Answer 12

Stare decisis

Question 13

How similar cases have been decided in the past

Answer 13

Precedent

Question 14

View that the const should bebinterpreted according to original intent of the framers

Answer 14

Original intent

Question 15

First asserted the right of the supreme court to determine the meaning of us const. Est courts power of judicial review over a ts of congress

Answer 15

Marbury v madison

Question 16

Power of court to determine whether acts of congress and by implication, the executive are in accord with the us const

Answer 16

Judicial review

Question 17

SC unanimously held that the doctrine of executive privilege was implicit in the const but couldnt be extendes to protect docs relevant to criminal prosecutions

Answer 17

US v Nixon

Question 18

Judges play minimal policymaking roles, leaving that duty strictly legislatures

Answer 18

Judicial restraint

Question 19

Judges make bold policy decisions; advocates emphasize that the courts can correct pressing need

Answer 19

Judicial activism

Question 20

Doctrine developed by federal courts and uses as a meanse to avoid deciding some cases principally those involving conflicts btwn the pres and congress

Answer 20

Political questions

Question 21

Judicial ominterpretation of an act in congress. If its an issue, congress passes a new legislation to clarify existing laws

Answer 21

Statutoryconstruction