CH8 Federal Courts & Judicial Branch

Question 1

jurisdiction

Answer 1

a court’s authority to hear & decide a case

Question 2

exclusive jurisdiction

Answer 2

the sole right to hear & decide a certain type of case, depending either on the subject matter of a case or the parties involved

Question 3

concurrent jurisdiction

Answer 3

cases that fall under the jurisdiction of both state and federal courts

Question 4

plaintiff

Answer 4

the person making a legal complaint in court

Question 5

defendant

Answer 5

the person against whom a complaint is filed

Question 6

original jurisdiction

Answer 6

the authority of a court to be the first court to hold trials in certain kinds of cases

Question 7

appellate jurisdiction

Answer 7

the authority of some courts to review decisions made by lower courts

Question 8

judicial restraint

Answer 8

the concept that a judge should interpret the Constitution according to the Framer’s original intentions

Question 9

judicial activism

Answer 9

the concept that the Constitution should be interpreted more broadly, as an evolving document, something that subsequent generations can interpret consistent with changing values & circumstances

Question 10

precedent

Answer 10

an earlier court decision that guides judges’ decisions in later cases

Question 11

senatorial courtesy

Answer 11

the tradition that a senator from the same state as a nominee to a federal district court & the same political party as the president can block a nomination for virtually any reason

Question 12

grand juries

Answer 12

panels of citizens set up to hear evidence of a possible crime and to recommend whether the evidence is sufficient to file criminal charges

Question 13

bankruptcy

Answer 13

legal process by which persons who cannot pay money they owe others can receive court protection & assistance in settling their financial problems

Question 14

magistrate judges

Answer 14

district court officials responsible for overseeing some of the early hearings of a criminal trial at which routine matters are carried out, and who may also hear misdemeanor criminal cases and certain civil cases

Question 15

misdemeanor

Answer 15

minor crime

Question 16

public defenders

Answer 16

lawyers appointed by the court to represent in criminal trials defendants who cannot afford to hire legal counsel

Question 17

marshals

Answer 17

law enforcement officers who provide security & police protection at federal courthouses, transport prisoners, help track down & arrest people accused of crimes, & provide protection to witnesses in federal cases

Question 18

appellant

Answer 18

a person who files an appeal

Question 19

briefs

Answer 19

written arguments filed by the parties in an appeal

Question 20

sovereign immunity

Answer 20

the principle that a sovereign government cannot be taken to court unless it agrees to be sued

Question 21

court martial

Answer 21

hearings held for the trial of military personnel accused of violating military law

Question 22

writ of certiorari

Answer 22

an order by a higher court seeking review of a lower court case

Question 23

docket

Answer 23

the list of cases to be heard before a court

Question 24

majority opinion

Answer 24

the Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that is signed by at least 5 of the 9 members of the Supreme Court

Question 25

concurring opinions

Answer 25

statements by Supreme Court justices who agree with the overall conclusion in the case, but stress some different or additional legal point

Question 26

dissenting opinion

Answer 26

statements written by Supreme Court justices who disagree with the majority’s decision; these opinions do not have a direct legal impact on the case but they can influence future judgments