Structure of the Court System

Question 0

Trial courts

Answer 0

Courts that determine the facts and apply the law to the facts.

Question 1

Jurisdiction

Answer 1

The power of a court to hear a case.

Question 2

Original jurisdiction

Answer 2

The authority of a court to hear a case when it is initiated, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction.

Question 3

Questions of fact

Answer 3

Questions relating to what happened: who, what, when, where, and how.

Question 4

Questions of law

Answer 4

Questions relating to the interpretation or application of the law.

Question 5

Bench trial

Answer 5

A trial conducted without a jury.

Question 6

Entrapment

Answer 6

A defense requiring proof that the defendant would not have committed the crime but for police trickery.

Question 7

Appellate courts

Answer 7

Courts that determine whether lower courts have made errors of law.

Question 8

Appellant or petitioner

Answer 8

The party in a case who has initiated an appeal.

Question 9

Appellee or respondent

Answer 9

The party in a case against whom an appeal has been filed.

Question 10

Harmless error

Answer 10

A trial court error that is not sufficient to warrant reversing the decision.

Question 11

Reverse

Answer 11

A decision is reversed when an appellate court overturns or negates the decision of a lower court.

Question 12

Remand

Answer 12

When an appellate court sends a case back to the trial court for a new trial or other action.

Question 13

Majority opinion

Answer 13

An opinion in which a majority of the court joins.

Question 14

Concurring opinion

Answer 14

An opinion that agrees with the majority’s result but disagrees with its reasoning.

Question 15

Dissenting opinion

Answer 15

An opinion that disagrees with the majority’s decision and it’s reasoning.

Question 16

U.S. Supreme Court

Answer 16

The highest federal appellate court, consisting of nine appointed members.

Question 17

U.S. Courts of Appeals

Answer 17

The intermediate appellate courts in the federal system.

Question 18

US Districts courts

Answer 18

The general jurisdiction trial courts in the federal system.

Question 19

Inferior Courts

Answer 19

In the federal system, all courts other than the U.S. Supreme Court.

Question 20

General jurisdiction

Answer 20

A court’s power to hear any type of case arising within its geographic area.

Question 21

Limited jurisdiction

Answer 21

A court’s power to hear only specialized cases.

Question 22

Subpoena

Answer 22

A court order requiring a person to appear to testify at a trial or deposition.

Question 23

En banc

Answer 23

When an appellate court that normally sits in panel sits as a whole.

Question 24

Writ of certiorari

Answer 24

A means if gaining appellate review; in the U.S. Supreme Court the writ is discretionary and will be issued to another court to review a federal question if four of the nine justices vote to hear the case.

Question 25

Constitutional court

Answer 25

A court established by Article III of the U.S. Constitution.

Question 26

Legislative courts

Answer 26

Courts created under Congress's Article I powers.

Question 27

Court of record

Answer 27

A court where a permanent record is kept of the testimony, lawyers' remarks, and judges' rulings.

Question 28

General jurisdiction

Answer 28

A court's power to hear any type of case arising within its geographical area.

Question 29

Limited jurisdiction

Answer 29

A court's power to hear only specialized cases.

Question 30

Exclusive jurisdiction

Answer 30

When only one court has the power to hear a case.

Question 31

Concurrent jurisdiction

Answer 31

When more than one court has jurisdiction to hear a case.

Question 32

Federal question jurisdiction

Answer 32

The power of the federal courts to hear matters of federal law.

Question 33

Diversity jurisdiction

Answer 33

The power of the federal courts to hear matters of state law if the opposing parties are from different states and the amount in controversy exceeds $75,000.

Question 34

Removal

Answer 34

The transfer of a case from one state court to another or from a state court to a federal court.