Judicial Branch

Judicial Branch

Judicial Review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Marbury v. Madison

This case establishes the Supreme Court's power of Judicial Review

U.S. Supreme Court

Highest court in the US

State Supreme Court

A state's highest court which typically decides matters of law appealed from lower courts

appeals court

a court in which appeals from trial-court decisions are heard

Florida Circuit Courts

The Florida circuit courts are state courts, and are trial courts of original jurisdiction for most controversies.

original jurisdiction

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These are the courts that determine the facts about a case.

U.S. District Courts

the courts where most federal cases begin, the U.S. District Courts are courts of original jurisdiction and hear civil and criminal cases

U.S. Court of Appeals

Decides cases which are appealed from the federal district courts.

precedent

How similar cases have been decided in the past.

civil case

A case involving a noncriminal matter, such as a contract dispute

criminal court

Courts that have the potential to take away someone's freedom

Common Law

a system of law based on precedent and customs

Hammurabi's Code

a set of 282 laws that dealt with almost every part of daily life

English Bill of Rights

document that gave England a government based on a system of laws and a freely elected parliament

Magna Carta

(1215) a charter of liberties (freedoms) that King John of England was forced to sign; it made the king obey the same laws as the citizens of his kingdom

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

impartial jury

the jury must not be prejudiced (influenced) against the defendant

prosecutor

a government official who conducts criminal prosecutions on behalf of the state

verdict

the decision of a jury

military law (UCMJ)

laws applicable to people in the armed forces

Rule of Law

principle that the law applies to everyone, even those who govern

court-martial

a court composed of military personnel, for the trial of those accused of violating military law

Felony

A serious crime

Misdemeanor

minor crime