Judicial branch

standing committee

permanent committee

House Rules Committee

• controls how bills are debated and voted on

• acts as a gatekeeper

conference committee

• final draft committee

• sends the bill to the president

Select committee

• non-permanent

• for specific issues

Joint committee

• can’t make laws because it brings people from both chambers

speaker of the house

most powerful position in the house

majority leader

leads the majority party in the house

minority leader

leads the minority party in the house

majority and minority whips

• keep party members in line during votes

• ensure party members support key legislation

reapportionment

redistributing seats in the house of representatives among the states based on population, measured every 10 years by the census

redistricting

redrawing the boundaries of congressional and state legislative district to reflect population changes

• after reapportionment

incumbency

currently holding a political office and seeking reelection

precedent

a previous court decision that serves as a guideline for the decisions on future cases

dissenting opinion

written by one or more justices who disagree with the majority opinion

concurring opinion

written by a justice who agrees with the majority opinion but has different reasons or wants to emphasize a specific point

precedent implementation

how lower courts and government officials apply the decisions and legal principles established by higher courts

rule of four

4 out of the 9 justices must believe a case raises a constitutional question in order to pursue it

solicitor general

someone whose job is to filter out which cases are most important

writ of certiorari

formally stating a call up to the supreme court to review a case

originalism/strict construction

stay true to the constitution and do not make changes

loose construction

believing that the principles of the constitution can be changed or adjusted to better fit modern day issues

judicial activism

• limit power over legislation

• the court should use its power to broaden the law

• “The constitution is a living document”

judicial restraint

• court rulings should try not to infringe on Congress’ or states’ roles in making or passing laws

• closely consider precedent

marbury v. madison

1803 supreme court case that established Judicial review, allowing the for supreme court to deem laws/acts as unconstitutional

judiciary act of 1789

law passed by Congress that set up the 3 court system

litigant

someone who participated in a court proceeding

plaintiff

the person or group who brings a lawsuit to court

prosecutor

a lawyer who represents the government in a criminal case

defendant

the person or group who is accused of committing a crime or wrongdoing in a legal case

original jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time

appellate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to review and make decisions on cases that have already been heard and decided by a lower court