Judiciary Branch Vocab AP Gov

Amicus Curiae

A 'Friend of the Court'; interested groups that are not involved in a suit, but may file briefs/make oral arguments in support of one side.

Appellate Jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.

Bill of Attainder

A law that declares a person guilty of a crime without a trial; this is illegal.

Rule of Four

Requirement that a case can only be heard by the Supreme Court if 4 Justices vote to hear the case.

Brief

Document prepared by an attorney representing a party; sets the facts of the case, summarizes the law, gives the arguments and discusses relevant cases.

Standing

Establishes who is entitled to bring a lawsuit to court.

Civil Law

Also known as 'common law'-- rules for the relationship between private citizens.

Criminal Law

Laws that define crimes that harm individuals or society as a whole.

Stare Decisis

Let the decision stand; the practice of basing judicial decisions on precedents established in similar cases in the past.

Indictment

The act of accusing; a formal accusation.

Grand Jury

A group of citizens who decide whether there is sufficient evidence to accuse someone of a crime.

Solicitor General

The third-ranking officer in the Justice Department, who decides what cases the federal government will appeal from lower courts.

Senatorial Courtesy

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.

Concurring Opinion

A Supreme Court opinion by one or more justices who agree with the majority’s conclusion but for different reasons.

Dissenting Opinion

A Supreme Court opinion by one or more justices in the minority to explain the minority’s disagreement with the Court’s ruling.

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that makes criminal an act that was legal when it was committed; these are illegal.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to declare an act of the Legislative or Executive Branch unconstitutional.

Precedent

The practice of following earlier judicial decisions.

Writ of Certiorari

'Made more certain'; an order issued by the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the record of a case for review.

Majority Opinion

The Supreme Court opinion reflecting the views of the majority of the justices.

Original Jurisdiction

The authority to hear a case for the first time.

Strict Constructionist

The view that judges should decide cases on the basis of the language of the Constitution.

Judicial Restraint

View that the court should reject any active lawmaking functions and stick to judicial interpretations of the past.