Exam 1 Flashcards
Jurisdiction
- the difference between federal and state courts are defined mainly by jurisdiction
- refers to kinds of cases a court is authorized to hear
-concurrent jurisdiction= when action could give rise to both a federal and state case
Commerce Clause
•an enumerated power listed in US Constitution
•states that US Congress shall have power:
“to regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes”.
Concurrent Jurisdiction
When an action could give rise to both a federal and state case
Felony
- max. sentence if convicted is 1 year+ in prison
- more significant crimes
- jury of 12
Misdemeanor
- max. sentence if convicted is less than 1 year
- crimes, but less serious
- jury of 6
Separation of Powers
- 3 branches of govt
* separation of authority between national and state govt
3 Branches of Government
1) legislative- Congress (senate + house of rep)
2) executive- President
3) judicial- Supreme Court
Bill of Rights
A non-exhaustive list of our rights as people
Venue
• where you can properly file a lawsuit(?)
•location where case is tried (criminal or civil)
–not jurisdiction, not about who’s authority case falls under, but about physical place
Statute of Limitations
Sets max. Time after an event that legal proceedings based on the event may be initiated
Arbitration
Process of resolving a dispute or grievance outside of the court system by presenting it to an impartial third party
•an alternative to the govt. sponsored forum for dispute resolution
Evidence
A degree of proof required in cases
Criminal Law
Focus is about crime and punishment •society criminalizes behavior that we wish not to tolerate •we thus seek to deter certain behavior •try to safeguard rights of accused •burden of persuasion on govt.
Civil Law
Anything not criminal in nature
•law of contracts, property, torts, employment, divorce, inheritance, tax, etc.
•govt. still has important roll in promoting civil law
-forum for resolution of disputes
-enforcement of these resolutions
(Standard) Burden of Proof
Standard which must be met for win/conviction
CRIMINAL
•beyond a reasonable doubt
•jury must be persuaded of guilt to level beyond probability (2/3)
•govt. is responsible for meeting this standard
CIVIL
•preponderance of the evidence
•slightly more evidence on one side (50.1%)
•plaintiff is responsible for this proof
Statutory Law
Representative pass law in form of statutes and codes
- ALL criminal is statutory
- some civil law is statutory, most is common law
Common Law
- courts make new law based on the way they (judges) interpret the law
- MUCH of civil law is common law
- case law
US Constitution
-ratified in 1789
-established the federal govt. as we know it
-limits power of federal govt.
•enumerated powers
•article 1, section 8
Commerce Clause
Enumerated power of federal govt. listed in Constitution
-to regulate commerce amongst the several states
Police Powers
All other powers not enumerated in constitution were reserved for states
•known collectively as the police powers
•contracts, property, business associations, liquor liability
•10th Amendment
Federal Court System
Primarily engaged in addressing disputes that arise out of federal law
- National govt. is one of limited authority
- lawsuits against the United States and those involving specific federal laws: criminal, antitrust, bankruptcy, patent copyright, and crimes against US govt.
- when federal govt. takes action, it’s supreme to state laws
State Court System
Addresses all other disputes not under jurisdiction of federal law
- “the powers not delegated to he United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by the United States, are reserved to the States”
- have broad jurisdiction
- individual cases citizens involved in are: robberies, traffic violations, broken contracts, family disputes, etc.
Jurisdiction
Differences between federal and state courts are defined mainly by jurisdiction
-refers to kinds of cases a court is authorized to hear
Authority
-federal vs. state, etc