AP Government - The Judiciary

Class action suits

a small group of people sueing a large group of people

Justiciable disputes

a constraint on the courts requiring case be capable of being settled by legal methods

Amicus Curiae

Friend of the Court" file briefs or even appear to argue their interest orally before the court.

Original Jurisdiction

courts that hear a case first , usually in trial.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power vested in an appeallate court to review and/or revise the decesion of a lower court

Concurrent Jurisdiction

the ability to exercise judicial review by different courts at the same time, within the same territory, and over the same subject matter.

District Courts

The lower courts hearing cases along the lines of bankruptcy & civil suits under federal law.

Courts of Appeals

intermediate appeallate courts in the federal system.

Senatorial Courtesy

deferring selection of district court judges to the choice of senators of their own party and represent that state.

Stare Decisis

decesion made based on precedents

Precedents

prior judicial decesion that serves as a rule for settling subsequent cases of similar nature.

Original Intent

Is a method of constitutional and legal interpretation that seeks to discern the original meaning of the words being construed

Judicial Implementation

whether judicial decesions are translated into actual public policies

Judicial Review

power of the courts to review acts of other branches of government and the states

Judicial Restraint

courts should allow the decesions of other branches to stand

Judicial Activisim

Court should play a role in shaping national policies

Political question

an issue that a court believes should be decided by the executive or legislative branch

Statutory Construction

judicial interpretation of an act of Congress, sometimes results in passing new legislation

Civil Law

Body of law dealing with private rights of individuals

Borked

to reject a nominee due to ideological reasons

Cases of Equity

those cases that cannot be resolved by common law; judges may be asked to issue injunctions or award damages

Concurring Opinion

a signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons

Dissenting Opinion

an opinion disagreeing with the majority decision in a Supreme Court ruling

Majority Opinion

a court opinion reflecting the views of the majority of the judges

Oral Argument

An opportunity for lawyers to summarize their position before the court and also to answer the judges' questions.

Senate Confirmation

the process outlined in Article Two of the Constitution, giving the Senate the authority to approve appointments made by the president

Writ of Certiorari

a request fro the Cout to order up records from a lower court to review the case

Rule of Four

At least four justices of the Supreme Court must vote to consider a case before it can be heard.

Bills of Attainder

Prohibits a person being found guilty of a crime without a trial

Cetificate

when lower court as the higher court to answer specific question in the matter