Chapter 2

Question 1

Limited-jurisdiction trial court

Answer 1

A court that hears matters of a specialized or limited nature.

Question 2

Small claims court

Answer 2

A court that hears civil cases involving small dollar amounts.

Question 3

General-jurisdiction trial court

Answer 3

A court that hears cases of a general nature that are not within the jurisdiction of limited-jurisdiction trial courts. Testimony and evidence at trial are recorded and stored for future reference.

Question 4

Intermediate appellate court

Answer 4

An intermediate court that hears appeals from trial courts.

Question 5

State supreme court

Answer 5

The highest court in a state court system; it hears appeals from intermediate appellate state courts and certain trial courts.

Question 6

Special federal courts

Answer 6

Federal courts that hear matters of specialized or limited jurisdiction.

Question 7

U.S. district courts

Answer 7

The federal court system’s trial courts of general jurisdiction.

Question 8

U.S. courts of appeals

Answer 8

The federal court system’s intermediate appellate courts.

Question 9

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Answer 9

A U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, DC, that has special appellate jurisdiction to review the decisions of the Court of Federal Claims, the Patent and Trademark Office, and the Court of International Trade.

Question 10

U.S. Supreme Court

Answer 10

The highest court in the United States, located in Washington, DC. The Supreme Court was created by Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 11

Petition for certiorari

Answer 11

A petition asking the Supreme Court to hear a case.

Question 12

Writ of certiorari

Answer 12

An official notice that the Supreme Court will review a case.

Question 13

Federal question case

Answer 13

A case arising under the U.S. Constitution, treaties, or federal statutes and regulations.

Question 14

Diversity of citizenship

Answer 14

A means for bringing a lawsuit in federal court that involves a non-federal question if the parties are (1) citizens of difference states or (2) a citizen of a state and a citizen or subject of a foreign country.

Question 15

Exclusive Jurisdiction

Answer 15

Jurisdiction held by only one court.

Question 16

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Answer 16

Jurisdiction shared by two or more courts.

Question 17

Standing to sue

Answer 17

Some stake in the outcome of a lawsuit.

Question 18

in personam jurisdiction

Answer 18

Jurisdiction over the parties to a lawsuit.

Question 19

service of process

Answer 19

A summons being served on the defendant to obtain personal jurisdiction over him or her.

Question 20

in rem jurisdiction

Answer 20

Jurisdiction to hear a case because of jurisdiction over the property of the lawsuit.

Question 21

quasi in rem jurisdiction

Answer 21

Jurisdiction that allows a plaintiff who obtains a judgement in one state to try to collect the judgement by attaching property of the defendant located in another state.

Question 22

Long-arm statute

Answer 22

A statute that extends a state’s jurisdiction to nonresidents who were not served a summons within the state.

Question 23

Venue

Answer 23

A concept that requires lawsuits to be heard by the court with jurisdiction that is nearest the location in which the incident occurred or where the parties reside.

Question 24

Forum-selection clause

Answer 24

A contract provision that designates a certain court to hear any dispute concerning nonperformance of the contract.

Question 25

choice-of-law clause

Answer 25

A contract provision that designates a certain state’s law or country’s law that will be applied in any dispute concerning nonperformance of the contract.