The Federal Courts

Vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts from Chapter 13 of The Federal Courts.

Criminal Law

The branch of law that regulates individual conduct, defines crimes, and specifies punishments.

Civil Law

The branch of law dealing with disputes that do not involve criminal penalties.

Precedent

A prior case whose principles are used as the basis for decision in a current case.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review the decisions of lower courts.

Plea Bargain

A negotiated agreement in a criminal case where a defendant pleads guilty in return for a reduced charge.

Jurisdiction

The official power of a court to make legal decisions and judgments.

Judicial Review

The power of courts to review and declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Writ of Certiorari

An order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court.

Judicial Activism

Judicial philosophy that advocates for going beyond the text of the Constitution to consider broader societal implications.

Judicial Restraint

Judicial philosophy that adheres closely to the text of the Constitution in legal interpretation.