APGOV SCOTUS Cases Overview

Vocabulary flashcards related to key terms and concepts discussed in the SCOTUS cases overview lecture.

Facts

The relevant events of a case that occurred before courts became involved.

Issue

A legal or Constitutional question the court considers in a case.

Holding

The court’s response to the issue being considered in a case.

Reasoning

The court’s explanation of a holding.

Decision

The outcome of a case that includes a discussion of the facts, issue, holding, and reasoning.

Opinion

An analysis of the court’s decision, written by the justices. The majority opinion is agreed upon by more than half of the justices.

Federalism

The balance of power between the federal government and state governments.

Judicial Review

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

Selective Incorporation

The process by which the Supreme Court extends the protections of the Bill of Rights to the states using the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.