Supreme Court and Judicial Process

These flashcards cover essential terminology and concepts related to the Supreme Court and the judicial process, forming crucial vocabulary for understanding the lecture content.

Judicial Review

The power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws or acts that it finds unconstitutional.

Civil Law

A system dealing with disputes between individuals or organizations, typically resolved through compensation.

Criminal Law

A system dealing with behavior that is defined as an offense against the public, punishable by imprisonment or fines.

Separation of Powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Majority Opinion

The judicial opinion agreed to by more than half of the members of a court.

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion that disagrees with the majority opinion of the court.

Amicus Curiae

A person or group who is not a party to a legal case but offers information or argument to help the court make its decision.

Gerrymandering

The practice of manipulating the boundaries of electoral districts to favor one party or class.

Rule of Four

The principle that at least four Supreme Court justices must agree to hear a case.

Appellate Court

A court that hears appeals from lower courts and reviews their decisions.

Federal Court System

A system of courts organized by the federal government, primarily dealing with the interpretation of the Constitution and federal laws.

Trial Court

A court where cases are tried in the first instance, as opposed to an appeals court.

Supreme Court

The highest judicial court in a country or state, which has the ultimate authority over legal interpretations.

Public Law

A category of law that governs relationships between individuals and the government.

Constitutional Issues

Legal questions regarding the interpretation of the Constitution.

Political Polarization

The diverging of political attitudes and opinions to the extremes, causing a divide.

Burden of Proof

The obligation to prove one's assertion, which varies between civil and criminal cases.

Electoral Apportionment

The process of determining the number of representatives each state has in the legislature based on population.

Lower Court

A court of law that is subordinate to a higher court, often dealing with initial cases.

Judicial Branch

The branch of government responsible for interpreting the laws and administering justice.

Legal Precedent

A legal case that establishes a principle or rule that courts subsequently follow when deciding similar cases.

Court Structure

The organization and hierarchy of courts within a judicial system.