Introduction to American Government and Judicial Structure Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards based on the introductory government lecture covering congressional membership, the Electoral College, the federal judicial structure, and basic federalism.

Nonvoting Members of the House

The six members in the House of Representatives who participate and vote in committees throughout the legislative process, but do not vote on the final passage of a bill.

Electoral College

A body encapsulating 538 individuals who cast the official ballots to elect the President and Vice President of the United States.

Electors

Party activists trusted to vote for their preferred party's candidate who cannot currently hold an office for profit or trust.

Three-Tier Judicial System

The structure of the federal judicial system consisting of district courts at the bottom, courts of appeals in the middle, and one Supreme Court at the top.

District Courts

The lowest tier trial courts in the federal judicial system where evidence is heard and witnesses are examined across 94 federal districts.

Circuit Courts / Courts of Appeals

The intermediate level of the federal judicial system consisting of 13 total circuits (12 numbered districts and 1 federal circuit) that hear appeals from district courts.

Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS)

The single highest court in the three-tier federal judicial system.

Fifth Circuit

The specific federal circuit court of appeals responsible for hearing federal appeals from Texas.

Dual Court Structure

The distinction between federal courts, which handle federal issues, and state courts, which handle state matters (such as Texas's 5-tier court system).

Federalism

The interaction and relationship between the two sovereign political areas: federal (national) and state governments.