Judicial Branch

Question 1

Amicus Curiae

Answer 1

(“Friends of the court”) An individual or organization that is not a party to a legal case but who is able to come and support or reject arguments of the case.

Question 2

Civil Law

Answer 2

A law that governs relationships between individuals and defines their legal rights.

Question 3

Common Law

Answer 3

Body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts

Question 4

Concurring Opinion

Answer 4

Additional opinion in a court decision written by a member of the majority

Question 5

Criminal Law

Answer 5

Is a body of law that relates to crime (endangers people)

Question 6

Dissenting Opinion

Answer 6

Judicial written opinion that contradicts the ruling of the full court

Question 7

Judicial Activism

Answer 7

One who believes that the Constitution is a living document whose strength lies in its flexibility and that judges should make bold policy decisions, even charting new constitutional ground by challenging the policy positions of the Congress and the President

Question 8

Judicial restraint

Answer 8

Courts avoids making policy; wants to leave policy up to other two branches

Question 9

Judicial Review

Answer 9

process by which the courts interpret the constitution. When the courts interpret the constitution, it allows us to understand how our founding fathers set out to run our country.

Question 10

Litigation

Answer 10

Engagement in a lawsuit

Question 11

Political questions

Answer 11

A doctrine developed by the federal courts and used as a means to avoid deciding some cases, principally those involving conflicts between the president and Congress.

Question 12

Precedent

Answer 12

A decision made by a higher court such as a circuit court of appeals or the Supreme Court that is binding on all other federal courts.

Question 13

Per Curiam Decision

Answer 13

Is a ruling issued by an appellate court to multiple judge in which the decision rendered is made by the court acting collectively and unanimously.

Question 14

Rule of four

Answer 14

A requirement which states that a case can only be heard by a supreme court if four justices vote to hear a case.

Question 15

Strict Construction

Answer 15

Interpretation of the Constitution that emphasizes a narrow reading of its text, focusing on the original meaning as understood at the time it was written

Question 16

Stare Decisis

Answer 16

Rule of precedent, whereby a rule or law contained in a judicial decision is commonly viewed as binding on judges whenever the same question is presented.

Question 17

Statutory law

Answer 17

Law that comes from authoritative and specific lawmaking sources, primarily legislatures but also including treaties and executive orders.

Question 18

Federal district courts

Answer 18

Consists of 94 courts (every state, including Puerto Rico and DC, have at least 1), 700 judges, original jurisdiction (any type of federal civil or criminal cases), created by Judiciary Act of 1789

Question 19

Original Jurisdiction

Answer 19

The court has the right to hear the case first before anyone else.

Question 20

Writ of Certioari

Answer 20

An order by the court directing a lower court to send up a case

Question 21

Writ of habeas corpus

Answer 21

An order by the court to a person/institution holding someone in custody to deliver the imprisoned person to the court.

Question 22

Majority Opinion

Answer 22

The official ruling of the supreme court on a case, explaining how the majority decision was reached.