Supreme Court key definitions Flashcards
What is meant by conservative justice?
-A strong belief in the doctrine of stare decisis.
What is meant by imperial judiciary?
-the judiciary dominates US Politics
-Controls political climate rather than checking the other branches.
What is meant by judicial activism?
-Justices should use their position to promote desirable social outcomes from their rulings
What is meant by judicial restraint?
-the belief that justices should not seek to ‘legislate’ from the bench, this should be left to the legislature and executive
What is meant by judicial review?
-type of court proceeding in which a judge reviews the lawfulness of a decision or action made by a public body
What is meant by liberal justice?
-usually believes people should have a lot of freedom in deciding how to behave and think.
What is meant by living constitution?
-one that evolves, changes over time, and adapts to new circumstances, without being formally amended
What is meant by originalism?
-the constitution should be interpreted as originally intended.
What is meant by public policy?
-a set of laws regulations and guidelines.
What is meant by stare decisis?
‘to stand by things decided’
What is meant by strict/ loose constructionist.
-loose- constitution- reading between the lines.
-strict- very literal interpretation
What is meant by swing justice?
Somebody who tends to be in the ideological centre.
What is meant by constitutional rights?
The protections and liberties guaranteed to the people by the U.S. Constitution.
What is meant by racial equality?
-when institutions provide equal opportunity to everybody regardless of ethnicity/ skin colour.
