Exam 3 Flashcards
Judicial Restraint
Judges deffering to policy judements of the elected branches and legal precedent
Who is Judicial restraint perferred by?
Conservitives
Judicial Activism
Judges allowing their personal judgment or political views to guide decisions
Who is judicial activism favored by?
Liberals
Precedent
Prior court decisions
District Courts
Original jurisdiction (trial) courts
How many geographically based district courts?
94
Where are federal cases tried?
District courts
How many judges in a district court?
one
Circuit/Appeal Courts
Review rulings of trials, do not hold trials
How many judges in a circuit/appeal court?
Rotating panel of 3 judges
What jurisdiction is Texas under?
5th Circuit, along with Missipsippi and Louisiana
Statutory/Statute Law
Laws made by legislative bodies
Regulations
Rules made by administrative agencies (created by statute)
Case/Common Law
Created through court decisions
Stare Decisis
Stand by things decided
Original Jurisdiction/Trial Courts
Courts resolving cases being heard for the first time
Appellate Jurisdiction
Courts review decisions of lower courts to determine if constituitional and statutory procedures were correctly interpretted and followed
Murder Boards
Coaching by White House officials on how to respond to tough questions from senators
“To Bork”
All out opposition to a nominee by means of lobbying and public relations campaign through the media
Where did the term “To Bork” come from?
Robert Bork, a Reagan nominee rejected by the Senate
How are the Federal Courts staffed?
Nomination by president, subject to simple majority confirmation by Senate
Qualifications needed to be in the Federal Court
None
Term of Office for federal court
Lifetime
Can the Federal court salary be reduced while in office?
No
Rule of Four
At least four justices must vote to accept case
Grant Cert
Accept writ of certiorari
Writ of Certiorari
Formal request for the supreme court to hear the case
A protection of individual liberty found within the main body of the Constitution (Before the Bill of Right) prhibited the governement from
ex post facto laws
Fourteenth Amendment
No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States
The “Wall of Seperation” interpretation of the esablishment clause was strongly advoacted by who
Thomas Jefferson
Miranda Rights
A suspect must be read their rights prior to interrogation
First Amendment
Freedom of speech, expression, press, assembly, religion,
Protects against self-incrimination
Fifth amendment
Protects against unreasonable search and seizure
Fourth Amendment
Prohibits cruel and unusal punishment
Eighth Amendment
Gives a criminal defendant the right to have the assistance of an attorney to represent them in legal proceeding
Sixth Amendment
President that signed the American with Disabilites Act
George H.W. Bush
League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) was formed in
Corpus Christi, TX
Civil Rights Act of 1968 concerned with discrimination in what area of society?
Housing
Civil Rights Act of 1964
Prohibited discrimination in proffessional settings
Established the Seperate but Equal Doctrine
Plessy v. Ferguson
Overturned Sepereate but Equal Doctrine
Brown v. Board of Education
Little Rock Nine happened in what state?
Arkansas
Which tribes did the Indian Removal Act
Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole Nation
Which tribe was removed via the Trail of Tears
Cherokee
Prohibited Poll Tax
Twenty-Fourth Amendment
What is the current ideology of the Supreme Court
Conservative activist
Oral Arguement
One hour with lawyers, each side get 30 minutes, only part of court open to public
Habeas Corpus
Requires hearing by a neutral judge
Bills of Attainder
Punishes a convict without trial
Ex post facto laws
Laws that go into effect immediately
The Constitution provides protection against
Habeas Corpus, Bills of Attainder, Ex post facto laws
Widely accepted interpretation of Establishment Clause
Govt. prohibited from officially recognizing and supporting a nation church
Accommodation interpretation of Establishment Clause
Govt. may not favor/discriminate any one religion, but can encourage religious activity
Wall of Separation interpretation of Establishment Clause
Govt. should not aid, support, or encourage religion
Lemon Test
The law must have a secular purpose, not advance/inhibit religion, and not encourage excessive govt. entanglement
Free exercise clause
Religious beliefs are protected, but not particular religious practices
Prior Restraint
English legal tradition prevents govt. from censoring/prohibiting the publication of newspapers
Gag order
Prohibit those involved in a trial from speaking publicly until the trial is over
Speech can be restricted if it
Represents clear and present danger
Due process clause
no person shall be “deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.”
Right to Privacy
Not included in U.S. Constitution, existence was proved in 1965 by Supreme court
Provisions in right to privacy
2nd Amendment, 3rd Amendment, 4th Amendment, 5th Amendment, 9th Amendment