Judicial Branch Overview

Flashcards covering key concepts about the Judicial Branch from lecture notes.

What is the highest court in the land?

Supreme Court

How do you become a Supreme Court Justice?

The President nominates and the Senate confirms.

What are the two main jobs of the Judicial Branch?

Interpret laws and check if they are constitutional.

What created the lower court system?

Congress.

Approximately how many cases are introduced to the Supreme Court? How many are heard?

About 7,000 cases are introduced, and around 80 are heard.

Who decides which cases are heard by the Supreme Court?

The Supreme Court justices themselves.

What is jurisdiction?

The authority to hear and decide a case.

What is original jurisdiction?

The authority of district courts to hear cases for the first time.

Which justice is known for writing the opinion in Brown v. Board?

Earl Warren.

Who was the first black man to serve on the Supreme Court?

Thurgood Marshall.

Who was the lead attorney for Brown v. Board?

Thurgood Marshall.

Which article of the Constitution created the national Supreme Court?

Article 3.

What is meant by a dual court system?

A legal system that has both federal and state courts.