Chapter 2 - Structures of American Law - Concepts Flashcards
(1) is one of the hallmarks of the American constitutional system. Each state has its own (2) and (3), though state statutes adopted are subordinate to the (4) and (5).
- Federalism
- machinery of government
- state constitution
- US Constitution
- laws adopted by Congress
8 powers designated to national government
- make treaties
- make laws that govern high seas
- coin money
- regulate standards of weights and measures
- regulate international trade
- regulate immigration/naturalization
- provide for national
- primarily regulate interstate commerce
4 powers delegated to states
- Establish and control local governments (cities, townships, counties)
- Conduct elections and apportion electoral districts (in compliance with federal standards)
- primary police power
- primary authority over commerce within borders
Police power is the power to make laws in furtherance of (1), (2), (3) and (4).
- public health
- safety
- welfare
- morality
7 concurrent powers – powers vested in state and national government
- power to tax
- power to spend and borrow money
- enact legislation
- charter and regulate banks
- establish courts of law
- establish administrative/regulatory agencies
- eminent domain
Some common features exist between state and nation governments. Each is based on a (1), which represents the fundamental and supreme law within the system. Each is based on the principle of (2) among the three branches. Each system has a (3) that enacts statutes which apply generally within the system. Each has a (4) responsible for administering government, and each has a (5) located within its executive branch. Each has its own set of (6).
- constitution
- separation of powers
- legislature
- chief executive
- bureaucracy
- law enforcement agencies
Each of the 51 legal systems also has a (1) or (2) that represents the interests of people within its jurisdiction on both civil and criminal matters. Each also has its own (3) which interpret constitutional provisions and exercise judicial review.
- governmental law office
- attorney general’s office
- court system
Legislatures in the US (1) and are composed of the the people’s elected representatives chosen through (2). Two types of legislators exist–(3), who discern what constituents prefer and vote accordingly, and (4), who rely on a sense of what is best. Most use a combination of these techniques, and (5) also come into play.
- make laws
- free and fair elections
- constituents
- trustees
- partisan politics
The US national legislature is Congress. The Constitution sought to (1) on its powers delegated in the Articles of Confederation, giving it (2), like the power to tax and regulate interstate commerce, as well as (3), demonstrated in the Necessary and Proper Clause. Congress legislates broad areas, but may not violate (4).
- expand
- enumerated powers
- implied powers
- Constitutional limitations (Bill of Rights)
Congress also has the power of (1) to ensure the Executive Branch is carrying out its laws as intended. For help with this, Congress has the power to (2) to agencies within the Ex Branch.
- oversight
2. delegation of legislative powers
Congress also acts in a judicial fashion when it uses its power to (1), which requires charges brought by the (2) and a 2/3 (3) majority in trial.
- impeach
- House of Representatives
- Senate
Laws enacted by Congress begin as (1) introduced by members of either the Senate or HoR. Bills to raise revenue must begin in the (2). Once assigned, a (3) discusses and chooses whether to approve the bill. If approved, it is sent to the (4) for a vote. To pass, an (5) must pass simple majority vote in both chambers.
- bills
- House of Representatives
- committee
- floor
- identical form of the bill
Once a bill passes, it is sent to the President, who has three options:
- Veto the bill (overridden by a 2/3 majority in both chambers)
- Sign the bill into law (usually happens)
- Fail to act, causing the bill to become law automatically in 10 days
Once a bill becomes law, it is published in the (1), arranged by the order in which statutes were adopted. The (2) is a listing that arranges statutes by 50 subjects, or (3) and contains the most current decisions on each. The (4) is a version of the US Code, but with annotations including how court decisions have interpreted statutes.
- United States at Large
- US Code
- Titles
- United State Code Annotated (USCA)
All state legislatures except Nebraska’s are (1). When statutes are adopted by state legislatures, they are published in volumes known as (2) and then integrated into (3). After the American Revolution, the states adopted (4) but eventually enacted statutes to (5) it. Periodically, states revise codes for relevancy, repealing, for example, offenses (6).
- bicameral
- session laws
- state codes
- common law
- codify
- no longer enforced
Trial courts (1) and are the (2), Appellate courts are not fact finding bodies; rather, they (3), (4) and (5).
- make factual determinations
- primary settlers of legal disputes
- review proceedings of lower courts
- correct errors
- settle unresolved legal issues
Law evolves not only through the (1) but also through a process of (2) in the context of particular cases. These cases arise in federal or state courts.
- legislative process
2. judicial interpretation
4 things Congress regulates with regard to the judicial branch
- structure of federal judiciary
- number of federal judges
- jurisdiction of lower federal courts
- funding for federal judiciary
Courts have jurisdiction (ability to hear a case) with regard to (1), (2), and (3). The jurisdiction of the SC is provided for in (4), though Congress may regulate its appellate authority, Jurisdiction of (5) is determined solely by Congress.
- categories of persons
- specific geographical areas
- particular types of issues
- Article III
- lower federal courts
Two basic categories of federal jurisdiction
- federal question jurisdiction
2. diversity of citizenship jurisdiction
Federal question jurisdiction is a case that handles a question arising in the (1), a (2), (3) (4) or (5). Most important issues of (6) an be framed as issues of federal law.
- US Constitution
- federal statute
- regulation
- executive order
- treaty
- public policy
Diversity of citizenship applies only to (1). A case must involve parties from (2) and an amount in controversy exceeding (3),
- civil cases
- different states
- $75,000
Federal courts also have sole jurisdiction over (1). Each federal court has its own (2).
- bankruptcies
2. bankruptcy court
The (1) are the major trial courts in the federal system. There are currently (2) federal judicial systems, allocated to states by population/caseload. Normally only one judge presides at hearings/trials, but in exceptional cases there may be (3). Over a 25 year period, criminal cases have rose disproportionately to civil cases–due in large part to the (4) and other expansions of law enforcement.
- United State District Courts
- 94
- three
- war on drugs
The intermediate appellate courts in the federal system are called the (1) Prior to their existence in 1891, appeals were heard by the (2) or (3).
- United States Court of Appeals
- Supreme Court
- Circuit Courts
The US Court of Appeals are often referred to as (1) because each one hears appeals from District Courts located in its (2). There are (3) of them plus one to hear (4).
- circuit courts
- circuit
- 12
- specialized cases
The Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia has the important additional function of hearing appeals from numerous (1) in the (2).
- quasi-judicial tribunals
2. federal bureaucracy
Appeals in the circuit courts are normally decided by a rotating panel of (1) but under exceptional circumstances these courts will decide cases (2), or with all judges of the court present.
- three judges
2. en banc
Although Article III specifically recognizes the United States Supreme Court, it was not formally established until the (1). It is currently composed of a (2) and (3), expanded from its original number by (4).
- Judiciary Act of 1789
- Chief Justice
- 8 Associate Justices
- Congress
As the Nation has become more (1), (2) and (3), the Supreme Court’s caseload has swelled.
- populous
- complex
- litigious
Due to Congress expansion of District Courts, the Supreme Court has sole original jurisdiction only in (1). The District Courts and SC have concurrent jurisdiction in cases dealing with (2).
- cases between the US government and a state government
2. ambassadors, other public Ministers and Consuls
Four places appellate cases for the SC, which can be limited by Congress, may come from
- 13 Courts of Appeals
- US Court of Appeals for Armed Forces
- Directly from District Courts (special circumstances)
- Courts of last resort for states (usually state supreme courts)
By Congress’ limitation of (1), Supreme Court’s appellate jurisdiction is almost entirely discretionary. The Court may grant writ of certiorari in cases dealing with (2). the Court sometimes uses this flexibility in its (3) to avoid cases that are (4).
- appeals of right
- substantial federal questions
- policymaking role
- “too hot to handle”
Congress has rarely (1) the SC’s appellate jurisdiction, but instead has given it control over its own agenda, in part by delegating the Court authority to promulgate (2) for itself and for (3).
- limited
- rules of procedure
- lower federal courts
Litigants of (1) who have exhausted all appellate remedies, and litigants of (2) who have exhausted all appellate remedies and whose issue involves a (3), may file a petition for certiorari. At least (4) must vote to grant certiorari.
- lower federal courts
- state courts
- substantial federal question
- four justices
Under Article I, Congress has set out its own (1), whose judges serve set terms of office (unlike in the SC) and whose decisions are appealable to the (2).
- tribunals
2. US Court of Appeals
3 examples of Congressional tribunals and what they do
- Tax Court (disputes between taxpayers and IRS)
- Court of Veterans’ Appeals (reviews decisions by Board of Veterans’ Appeals regarding claims to benefits)
- Court of Federal Claims (adjudicates tort claims against the federal government)
The (1) adjudicates controversies between the fed and importers of foreign goods. It has been declared an (2) and its nine judges are (3).
- Court of International Trade
- Article III court
- appointed for life
The President appoints (1); these appointments are subject to (2). Their life tenures were intended to make federal courts independent of (3) and (4), but some do not agree with these.
- federal judges
- Senate approval
- partisan forces
- transitory public passions
Impeachment of a federal judge requires approval of (1) by a majority vote in the (2) and a (3) vote in Senate after a trial presided over by the (4).
- one or more articles of impeachment
- House of Representatives
- 2/3
- SC Chief Justice
Only one Supreme Court justice has ever been impeached, and it was not confirmed by Senate. Federal judges do not have to worry that their (1) might cost them their jobs; instead impeachment depends on (2) or a (3).
- decisions
- criminal conduct
- serious breaches of judicial ethics
(1) are appointed by the judges of the federal district courts for a period of eight years. They replace (2) in presiding over (3), (4) and (5).
- Federal magistrate judges
- commissioners
- pretrial proceedings (civil and criminal)
- misdemeanors
- civil trials (with consent of both parties)
The (1) gives (2) jurisdiction to try all offenses under the Code committed by military personnel. These offenses include (3) and (4).
- Uniform Code of Military Justice
- courts-martial
- regular civilian crimes
- offenses particular to the military/navy (AWOL, desertion)
Court-martial proceedings are initiated by commanders of military units, referred to as (1), who appoint court members. Military lawyers, called (2), serve as judge, trial counsel and defense counsel. Rules of procedure/evidence are prescribed by the (3); these are incorporated in the (4).
- convening authorities
- judge advocates
- President
- Manual for Courts-Martial