Federal Court System

Question 1

Federalism

Answer 1

a system of government in which the same territory is controlled by two levels of government

Question 2

U.S. Supreme Court

Answer 2

Highest Court of the Land

Question 3

U.S. Court of Appeals

Answer 3

U.S. appellate courts have jurisdiction over cases that allege violations of federal constitutional right

Question 4

U.S. District Courts

Answer 4

Jurisdiction of all causes, civil and criminal, brought by the United States that arise under the provisions of this subchapter.

Question 5

Jurisdiction

Answer 5

the official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

Question 6

Original jurisdiction

Answer 6

A court’s power to hear and decide a case before any appellate review.

Question 7

Appellate jurisdiction

Answer 7

The power to reverse or modify the the lower court’s decision.

Question 8

Uphold

Answer 8

to decide not to change (a verdict) The Court of Appeals upheld his conviction.

Question 9

Overturn

Answer 9

when a judiciary rejects the result of a prior court proceeding

Question 10

Federal laws

Answer 10

bills that have passed both houses of Congress, been signed by the president,

Question 11

Civil cases

Answer 11

suing someone for money in disputes over things like contracts, damage to property, or someone getting hurt

Question 12

Criminal cases

Answer 12

A criminal case is a lawsuit brought by the state against a person who has broken a criminal law

Question 13

Appeal

Answer 13

apply to a higher court for a reversal of the decision of a lower court.

Question 14

How does a case reaches the Supreme Court normally

Answer 14

The more common way a case may reach the Supreme Court is through the lower appellate courts.

Question 15

Writ of certiorari

Answer 15

This is a request that the Supreme Court order a lower court to send up the record of the case for review.

Question 16

Rule of Four

Answer 16

The Supreme Court’s practice of granting a petition for review only if there are at least four votes to do so

Question 17

Brief

Answer 17

a written argument submitted to the court

Question 18

Amicus curiae

Answer 18

a person or group who is not a party to an action, but has a strong interest in the matter.

Question 19

Oral arguments

Answer 19

An oral argument is a presentation of a case before a court by spoken word. (30 mins)

Question 20

Decision

Answer 20

a judicial determination of parties’ rights and obligations reached by a court based on facts and law

Question 21

Majority opinion

Answer 21

an appellate opinion supporting the court’s judgment (the result reached in the case) which receives a majority vote of the justices or judges hearing the case.

Question 22

Concurring opinion

Answer 22

an appellate opinion of one or more justices or judges which supports the result reached in a case for reasons not stated in the majority opinion.

Question 23

Dissenting opinion

Answer 23

an appellate opinion of one or more judges which disagrees with the reasoning stated in the majority or plurality opinion and, consequently, with the result reached in a case.