federal courts ch.14

Question 1

All federal judges are nominated

Answer 1

by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Question 2

makes up one of the three branches of government.

Answer 2

judicial branch

Question 3

Case law

Answer 3

judicial interpretations of common- law principles & doctrines, as well as interpretations of constitutional law, statutory law, & administrative law

Question 4

Judicial Review

Answer 4

the power of the U.S. Supreme Court to review the acts of other political institutions and declare them unconstitutional.

Question 5

TYPES OF FEDERAL COURTS

Answer 5

U. S. District Courts
U.S. Courts of Appeals
The United States Supreme Court

Question 6

U.S. DISTRICT COURTS

Answer 6

U.S. district courts are trial courts, & are courts of original jurisdiction.
*There are 94 district courts, and at least one district court for every state.

Question 7

Trial court

Answer 7

the court in which most cases begin

Question 8

Original jurisdiction

Answer 8

the power of a court to hear and decide a case first.

Question 9

Appellate jurisdiction

Answer 9

the power of a court to receive cases from trial courts for the purpose of reviewing whether the legal procedures were followed properly

Question 10

U.S. COURTS OF APPEAL

Answer 10

A party who is dissatisfied with the decision of a district court can appeal the case to the appropriate U.S. court of appeals, or federal appellate court.
*There are 13 U.S. courts of appeals

Question 11

THE U.S. SUPREME COURT

Answer 11

• is the highest court in the land.
• 9 members on the U.S. Supreme
• The U.S. Supreme Court has both original & appellate jurisdiction

Question 12

WHICH CASES REACH THE SUPREME COURT?

Answer 12

• Whether a legal question has been decided differently by various lower courts & needs resolution by the highest court
• Whether a lower court’s decision conflicts with an existing Supreme Court ruling
• Whether the issue could have significance beyond the parties to the dispute
• Whether the solicitor general is pressuring the Court to take a case.

Question 13

Writ of Certiorari,

Answer 13

order issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case.

Question 14

Rule of Four,

Answer 14

requirement that a minimum of four justices must vote to review a lower court case by issuing a writ of certiorari.

Question 15

Majority opinion

Answer 15

an opinion written by a justice who represents a majority of the court.

Question 16

Plurality opinion

Answer 16

an opinion written on behalf of the largest bloc of the justices, representing less than a majority, who agree on the reasons supporting the Court’s decision

Question 17

Concurring opinion

Answer 17

an opinion written by one or more of the justices who agree with the decision but for different reasons than those stated in the majority opinion.

Question 18

Dissenting opinion

Answer 18

an opinion written by one or more justices who disagree with a decision.

Question 19

federal judges

Answer 19

The president appoints all federal judges, and all federal judges must be confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

Question 20

Once appointed to such a judgeship(850)

Answer 20

a person holds the job for life.

Question 21

Judges serve until

Answer 21

they resign, retire voluntarily, or die

Question 22

Senatorial courtesy

Answer 22

in the selection of lower federal court judges, deference shown to home-state senators who are of the same party as the president

Question 23

Judicial activism

Answer 23

the belief that the Supreme Court should make policy and vigorously review the policies of other branches.

Question 24

Judicial restraint

Answer 24

the belief that the Supreme Court should not become involved in questioning the operations and policies of the elected branches unless absolutely necessary.