The State Court System: Vocab Flashcards
Municipal Court
A court organized within a city, village, or township, with jurisdiction over offenses under local ordinances and certain petty offenses.
Primary
A selective mechanism by which members of a political party express their preference in the selection of the party’s candidates for public office. For example, both the Democratic and Republican parties have primaries for President.
Retention Election
A periodic process held at the same time as a general election, in which voters decide whether a state judge will remain in office.
Merit Selection
A process in which a non-partisan judicial nominating committee generates a list of potential judges from which the appointing authority (usually the governor of the state) selects whom to appoint.
