Judicial Branch

First Amendment

Freedom of speech, press, assembly, religion, and petition.

Second Amendment

Right to bear arms.

Third Amendment

No forced quartering of soldiers.

Fourth Amendment

Protection against unreasonable search and seizures.

Fifth Amendment

Rights of the accused, including due process and no self-incrimination.

Sixth Amendment

Right to a fair, speedy, and public trial.

Seventh Amendment

Right to a jury trial in civil cases.

Eighth Amendment

Protection against cruel and unusual punishment.

Ninth Amendment

People have rights beyond those listed in the Constitution.

Tenth Amendment

Powers not granted to the federal government belong to the states.

Eleventh Amendment

Restricts the ability of individuals to sue states in federal court.

Twelfth Amendment

Revised procedures for electing the president and vice president.

Thirteenth Amendment

Abolished slavery.

Fourteenth Amendment

Defines citizenship and guarantees equal protection under the law.

Fifteenth Amendment

Voting rights cannot be denied based on race.

Sixteenth Amendment

Authorized federal income tax.

Seventeenth Amendment

Established direct election of senators.

Eighteenth Amendment

Prohibition of alcohol.

Nineteenth Amendment

Granted women the right to vote (women's suffrage).

Twentieth Amendment

Shortened the time between election and inauguration (lame duck amendment).

Twenty-First Amendment

Repealed the Eighteenth Amendment (prohibition).

Twenty-Second Amendment

Limited the president to two terms.

Twenty-Third Amendment

Granted electoral votes to Washington D.C.

Twenty-Fourth Amendment

Abolished poll taxes for federal elections.

Twenty-Fifth Amendment

Procedures for presidential disability and succession.

Twenty-Sixth Amendment

Lowered voting age to 18.

Twenty-Seventh Amendment

Congressional pay raises cannot take effect until the next term.

Affirm

Findings of the lower courts are upheld.

Amicus curiae

A person not directly related to the case who submits a brief to influence the court's decision.

Appellate judges

Judges who review decisions of lower level judges.

Briefs

Documents filed by friends or organizations with interest in an issue, which may influence the court.

Checks and Balances

A system that prevents each branch of government from having too much power.

Circuit Courts

Eleven geographical circuits that handle federal appeals.

Constitutional cases

Legal cases involving interpretation and application of the Constitution.

Dissenting opinion

Written statement by judges who disagree with the majority opinion.

District courts

Trial level courts where cases are initially heard.

Federal law cases

Cases arising under the U.S. Constitution, federal laws, or treaties.

Judicial review

Power of courts to examine actions of legislative and executive branches and declare them unconstitutional.

Judicial term limits

Judges serve lifetime terms but can be removed for bad behavior.

Majority opinion

Written ruling by the most senior judge agreeing with the majority decision.

Marbury v. Madison

Established judicial review; ruled that Marbury was entitled to his commission but the law allowing him to sue in Supreme Court was unconstitutional.

Original jurisdiction

The court's authority over the area where a crime occurred.

Remand

To send a case back to a lower court for retrial due to irregularities.

Reverse

To overturn a lower court ruling; the petitioner wins.

Split authority

Disagreements between courts of the same level.

Supreme Court

The highest court that decides on major legal issues, especially civil rights cases.

Trial judges

Judges who determine the law and facts of a case.