Chapter 2

Question 1

Subject matter jurisdiction

Answer 1

the type of case a court has authority to hear

Question 2

Geographic jurisdiction

Answer 2

political boundaries in which the incident took place

Question 3

Hierarchical jurisdiction

Answer 3

the difference between trial and appellate courts

Question 4

Dual Court systems

Answer 4

a system consisting of a separate judicial structure for each state in addition to a national structure

Question 5

Concurrent jurisdiction

Answer 5

Concurrent jurisdiction is the ability to exercise judicial review by different courts at the same time, within the same territory, and over the same subject matter

Question 6

Limited jurisdiction

Answer 6

when the court only has jurisdiction over on certain types of cases such as bankruptcy, or family matters: e.g. municipal court, county court or city court.

Question 7

General jurisdiction

Answer 7

A court of general jurisdiction is one that has the authority to hear cases of all kinds - criminal, civil, family, probate, and so forth(e.g. district court, circuit court and superior court)

Question 8

General sessions courts

Answer 8

tribunal courts in particular states with limited jurisdiction to hear misdemeanor cases

Question 9

Circuit courts

Answer 9

Courts with several counties or districts within their jurisdiction

Question 10

Circuit riders

Answer 10

Judges who rode from jurisdiction to jurisdiction in remote states or federal territories

Question 11

Criminal courts

Answer 11

Tribunals handling criminal cases

Question 12

Court of last resort

Answer 12

the last court that may here a case

Question 13

Courts of record

Answer 13

Any legal proceedings where a written record is kept of court matters and dialogue

Question 14

Appellate courts

Answer 14

courts hearing appeals emanating from lower courts

Question 15

amicus curiae

Answer 15

Friend of the court. Persons may initiate petition on behalf of others.

Question 16

Evarts Act

Answer 16

introduced in 1981, it created circuit courts of appeal to hear appeals emanating from U.S. District courts.

Question 17

Exclusive jurisdiction

Answer 17

Specific jurisdiction over particular kinds of cases

Question 18

en banc

Answer 18

“in the bench” refers to a session where all the judges assigned to the court participate.

Question 19

General trial courts

Answer 19

Any one of several types of courts with diverse jurisdiction to conduct jury trial and decide cases

Question 20

Judicial review

Answer 20

The authority of a court to limit the power of the executive and legislative branches of the government

Question 21

Judiciary Act of 1789

Answer 21

a congressional act that provide for 3 level s of courts.

Question 22

Jurisdiction

Answer 22

the power of a court to hear and and determine a particular type of a case

Question 23

Original jurisdiction

Answer 23

First authority over a case

Question 24

Rule of Four

Answer 24

U.S. Supreme Court rule whereby the court grants certiorari only on the agreement of at least four justices

Question 25

Supreme Court

Answer 25

The federal and state court of last resort

Question 26

Trial Courts

Answer 26

Courts where guilt or innocence of defendant is established

Question 27

United States Circuit Courts of Appeal

Answer 27

Appellate courts from which U.S. District court decisions are appealed.

Question 28

United States District Courts

Answer 28

The basic trials court of federal civil and criminal actions

Question 29

United States Magistrate

Answer 29

Judges who fulfill the pretrial judicial obligation of the federal courts

Question 30

Writ of Certiorari

Answer 30

an order of a superior court requesting that the record of an inferior court be brought forward for review or inspection. Literally, “ to be more fully informed”

Question 31

Federal District Courts

Answer 31

Basic trial courts for the federal government that try all criminal cases.