Chapter 2: Court and Jurisdiction - State and Federal Court Systems

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering state court systems, federal court structures, the U.S. Supreme Court, its types of decisions, and jurisdictional definitions from Chapter 2.

Limited Jurisdiction Trial Courts

State trial courts (also called inferior trial courts) that hear matters of a specialized or limited nature, such as traffic courts, juvenile courts, justice-of-the-peace courts, probate courts, family law courts, and misdemeanor criminal law cases.

Small Claims Cases

Matters heard in limited jurisdiction trial courts involving amounts between \\text{\}5,000 - \\text{\}10,000, where both individuals appear on their own without lawyers, and decisions may be appealed to general-jurisdiction trial courts or appellate courts.

General Jurisdiction Trial Courts

State courts that hear court cases of a general nature not within the jurisdiction of limited-jurisdiction trial courts; testimony and evidence are kept for future reference, and cases may be divided into criminal and civil divisions.

Intermediate Appellate Courts

Courts that hear appeals from trial courts and review the trial record to determine if there were any errors at trial requiring reversal or modification.

Highest State Court

The highest court in a state court system that hears appeals from intermediate appellate courts and certain trial courts without hearing new evidence or testimony; its decisions are final unless a question of law is appealable to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Article III of the U.S. Constitution

The constitutional provision that vests federal judicial power in one Supreme Court and authorizes Congress to establish inferior federal courts, such as district courts, courts of appeals, and bankruptcy courts.

Special Federal Courts

Federal courts that hear matters of specialized or limited jurisdiction, including the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, and U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.

U.S. District Courts

The federal court system's trial courts of general jurisdiction, with each state having at least $1$ federal court.

U.S. Courts of Appeals

The federal court system's intermediate appellate courts, organized into $13$ circuits.

Supreme Court of the United States

The highest court in the United States, composed of $9$ judges (justices) who are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate, which only hears already decided cases with no new evidence or testimony.

Petition for Certiorari

A document filed by a petitioner asking the Supreme Court to hear a case.

Writ of Certiorari

An official notice stating that the Supreme Court will review a case.

Unanimous Decision

A Supreme Court decision in which all justices agree on the outcome.

Majority Decision

A Supreme Court decision in which a majority of the justices agree on the outcome.

Plurality Decision

A Supreme Court decision where a majority of justices agree on the outcome of the case, but not on the reasoning for reaching that outcome.

Tie Decision

A Supreme Court outcome occurring when not all $9$ justices are present and the resulting vote is tied.

Federal Question

A case that comes up under the U.S. Constitution, treaties, or federal statutes and regulations.