Texas Judicial System and Social Welfare Policy Flashcards

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the Texas judicial system structure, legal terminology, and social welfare concepts as presented in the lecture notes.

Civil dispute

A legal disagreement that may stem from matters such as a tenant breaking an apartment lease or a manufacturer's liability for defective products.

Felonies

The most serious criminal offenses for which prison sentences can be imposed.

Misdemeanors

Minor legal offenses punished by fines or short sentences.

State jail felonies

Property crimes and drug offenses punishable by community service work or time in a prison-like facility operated by the state.

Plaintiff

An injured person who files a lawsuit in a civil dispute.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to try and resolve cases being heard for the first time by weighing evidence and facts to reach a verdict.

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions of lower courts to determine if constitutional and statutory principles were correctly followed.

Bifurcated court system

A judicial structure, like that in Texas and Oklahoma, featuring two courts of last resort: one for civil cases and one for criminal cases.

Municipal courts

The lowest ranking courts in Texas with original and exclusive jurisdiction over city ordinances.

Court of record

A court in which a word-for-word transcript is made of trial proceedings; most municipal courts do not fall into this category.

De novo

A process where a higher court conducts a completely new trial because no official record exists from the original lower court proceeding.

County judge

The chief executive officer of a county who is elected countrywide to a $4$-year term and presides over the constitutional county court.

Statutory county courts

Also known as county courts at law, these are courts created by the legislature with authority defined by the specific legislation that established them.

District court

The primary trial court in Texas, having original jurisdiction over felony cases, divorce, land titles, and civil cases involving $200$ or more.

Texas Supreme Court

The nine-member court that serves as the court of last resort for civil cases in Texas.

Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

The nine-member court that functions as the court of last resort for criminal cases in Texas.

Grand jury

A group of $12$ persons who determine if there is sufficient evidence to proceed with a criminal prosecution.

Indictment

Also known as a "true bill," this is a written statement by a grand jury charging a person or persons with a crime.

No bill

The result of a grand jury investigation when there is not enough evidence to warrant a trial.

Petit Jury

Also known as a trial jury, this is the body of citizens ($6$ in lower courts and $12$ in district courts) that hears a case.

Veniremen

Prospective jurors who are screened by attorneys before a jury is officially seated.

Peremptory challenges

A tool used by attorneys to dismiss a prospective juror without having to explain the reason.

Tort

A wrongful act over which a lawsuit can be brought.

Punitive damages

Awards designed to punish those who caused an accident or injury, often granted in addition to compensation for actual losses.

Merit selection plan

Also known as the Missouri plan, a system where the governor appoints judges from a list of nominees, followed by later retention elections.

Procedural due process

Principles outlined in constitutional and statutory law that the state must follow to ensure individuals are prosecuted fairly.

Social welfare policy

Policy that determines who benefits from government spending on its citizens and the extent of those benefits.

Official poverty line

The level of cash income the federal government determines is needed to maintain a "decent standard of living," which as of $2012$ was $23,482$ for a family of four.

Means-tested spending

Government social welfare spending that is distributed based on the recipient's income level.

Entitlements

Government benefits, such as Social Security, for which Congress has established specific eligibility criteria like age or income.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

A federal program designed to provide assistance to the elderly or needy.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

A federal tax credit designed to help the poor.

Medicaid

A joint federal-state program that provides health services to low-income individuals.