AP US GOV UNIT 2 JUDICIAL BRANCH VOCAB

Civil law

Law pertaining to private disputes between individuals.

Common law

Unwritten law developed from judicial decisions and customs.

Concurring opinion

Agrees with the majority opinion for different reasons.

Criminal law

Law concerned with punishing crimes.

Dissenting opinion

Disagrees with the majority opinion.

Judicial activism

Philosophy advocating for broad judicial power to further justice.

Judicial restraint

Interprets law as written without considering current culture.

Judicial review

Power of the judicial branch to review actions of executive and legislative branches.

Litigation

Process of taking legal action.

Political questions

Issues that cannot be determined by the court.

Precedent

Majority opinion serves as an example for future cases.

Per curiam decision

Decision made "by the court."

Rule of four

Four justices must agree to hear a case.

Strict construction

Literal interpretation of legal documents.

Stare decisis

Following precedents established in past decisions.

Statutory law

Law from authoritative and specific law-making sources.

Federal district courts

Trial courts that hear most federal cases.

Original jurisdiction

The court where a case is first heard.

Writ of certiorari

SCOTUS orders a lower court to send a case for review.

Writ of habeas corpus

Petition requesting proof of lawful imprisonment.

Amicus curiae

“friend of the court”