Ch.6 Vocab Flashcards
The Federal Judiciary: Politics, Power, and the "Least Powerful" Branch
the branch of the federal government that interprets the laws of the nation.
federal judiciary
the highest level of the federal judiciary, which was established in Article III of the Constitution and serves as the highest court in the nation.
Supreme Court
the authority of a court to act as the first court to hear a case, which includes the finding of facts in the case.
original jurisdiction
the authority of a court to hear and review decisions made by lower courts in that system.
appellate jurisdiction
argument by Alexander Hamilton that the federal judiciary would be unlikely to infringe upon rights and liberties but would serve as a check on the other two branches.
Federalist No.78
a Supreme Court decision that established judicial review over federal laws.
Marbury v. Madison (1803)
the authority of the Supreme Court to strike down a law or executive action if it conflicts with the Constitution.
judicial review
a category of law covering actions determined to harm the community.
criminal law
a category of law covering cases involving private rights and relationships between individuals and groups.
civil law
the lowest level of the federal judiciary; these courts usually have original jurisdiction in cases that start at the federal level.
federal district courts
the middle level of the federal judiciary; these courts review and hear appeals from the federal district courts.
federal courts of appeals
a judicial decision that guides future courts in handling similar cases.
precedent
the practice of letting a previous legal decision stand.
stare decisis
binding Supreme Court opinions, which serve as precedent for future cases.
majority opinion
an opinion that agrees with the majority decision, offering different or additional reasoning, that does not serve as precedent.
concurring opinion
