Judicial Branch Terms

Jurisdiction

Authority to hear a case.

Original Jurisdiction

Courts power to hear case 1st.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Power to review a lower court case.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

Multiple courts share authority.

Writ of Certiorari

Supreme court order to review a lower court's decision.

Cerificate

Lower court asks Supreme court to review for guidance.

Precedent

Prior ruling guiding future decisions.

Opinion of the Court

Decision of the majority of the Supreme Court Justices explained.

Concurring opinion

Agrees with the majority but for different reasons.

Dissenting opinion

Disagrees with majority views.

Judicial Restraint

Reluctant to declare legislative enactments unconstitutional unless the conflict between the enactment and the Constitution in obvious.

Judicial Activism

Spirit of the times and the needs of the nation can influence judicial decisions.

Due Process clause

Government must respect legal rights.

Bill of Rights

First 10 amendments; limits on National Government

Establishment Clause

Prohibits the Government from establishing a religion.

Free exercise clause

Protects practicing religion or not.

Libel

Written false statement, harming reputation.

Slander

false spoken statement, harming reputation.

Miranda rule

Police must inform rights before questioning.

Prior restraint

Censorship before it occurs.

Probable cause

resonable grounds for legal action.

Seditious speech

advocates overthrowing the gov

symbolic speech

non verbal expression

Treason

Betraying one’s country