unit 2b

Federal Judiciary

The branch of government responsible for interpreting and applying national laws.

Supreme Court

The highest federal court, established by Article III of the Constitution, with ultimate appellate jurisdiction and limited original jurisdiction.

Federal District Courts

The trial-level courts of the federal system, possessing original jurisdiction over most federal cases.

Federal Courts of Appeals

Intermediate appellate courts that review decisions from district courts to ensure legal consistency.

Jurisdiction

The legal authority of a court to hear and decide cases.

Original Jurisdiction

A court’s authority to hear a case first, including making determinations of fact and law.

Appellate Jurisdiction

A court’s authority to review the rulings of lower courts, focusing on legal interpretation rather than fact-finding.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

The shared authority of both state and federal courts to hear certain cases.

Federal Judges

Appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, serving lifetime terms to maintain judicial independence.

Precedent

A prior court ruling that serves as a legal standard for future cases.

Stare Decisis

The principle of adhering to established precedent to ensure legal stability and predictability.

Majority Opinion

The official decision of the Supreme Court, forming binding precedent for lower courts.

Concurring Opinion

A separate opinion by a justice who agrees with the majority decision but for different legal reasons.

Dissenting Opinion

A written disagreement by one or more justices, which does not serve as precedent but may influence future legal reasoning.

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

The case that established judicial review, empowering courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Judicial Review

The power of the judiciary to assess the constitutionality of legislative and executive actions.

Judicial Restraint

The belief that courts should defer to elected branches and avoid overturning laws unless they are clearly unconstitutional.

Judicial Activism

The philosophy that courts should play an active role in shaping policy and addressing societal needs, even if it means overturning precedent or legislation.

Strict Constructionism

Interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning as understood at the time of ratification.

Loose Constructionism

A flexible approach to constitutional interpretation that considers contemporary contexts and evolving societal norms.

Political Patronage

The practice of appointing government officials based on political loyalty rather than merit.

Pendleton Act (1883)

Legislation that established a merit-based civil service system to reduce political influence in hiring.

Merit System

A system in which government employees are selected and promoted based on qualifications rather than political connections.

Iron Triangle

A stable, mutually beneficial relationship between a bureaucratic agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group that influences policy decisions.

Issue Networks

Loose coalitions of interest groups, academics, policymakers, and media actors who collaborate to influence policy on specific issues.

Discretionary Authority

The ability of agencies to make policy decisions within the framework of congressional legislation.

Red Tape

Excessive bureaucracy and procedural requirements that can slow down decision-making and implementation.