american judicial systems exam 1

original jurisdiction

the court that by law must be the first to hear a case

appellate jurisdiction

the authority of a higher court to review the decision of a lower court

federal question

jurisdiction that gives federal courts the power to hear cases that relate to violations of the constitution or federal law

plea bargain

a bargain or deal that has been struck between the prosecutor and the defendants attorney whereby some form of leniency is promised in exchange for a guilty plea

common law

idea that precedent should guide what happens in a case

adversarial process

the process used in courtrooms, where the trial is seen as battle between two opposing sides, and the role of the judge is to act as a sort of passive referee

grand jury

16-23 citizens who listen to evidence of criminal allegations, which is presented by the prosecutors, and determine whether probably cause exists to believe an individual committed an offense

petit jury

6-12 people chosen at random from the community to hear evidence and determine whether a defendant in a civil trial has liability or whether a defendant in a criminal trial is guilty or not guilty

venire

the jury pool, the group of candidates for the jury

voir dire

the process of selecting members of the jury

judicial review

the power of the judicial branch to declare acts of the executive and legislative branches unconstitutional