judicial branch quiz

Q: What is the job of the judicial branch?

A: To interpret laws and decide if laws are constitutional.

Q: Why do Supreme Court justices have lifetime appointments?

A: So they can make decisions without pressure from politics or elections.

Q: What is one pro of lifetime appointments?

A: Judges stay independent and aren’t influenced by voters.

Q: What is one con of lifetime appointments?

A: Justices can stay in power for decades even if people disagree with them.

Q: What is the structure of the federal court system?

A: District Courts → Courts of Appeals → Supreme Court

Q: What is the structure of the state court system?

A: Trial Courts → Superior Courts → State Appeals Courts → State Supreme Court

Judicial Review

The power of courts to decide if a law violates the Constitution.

Marbury v. Madison

The Supreme Court case that established judicial review.

John Marshall

The Chief Justice who helped establish judicial review in Marbury v. Madison.

Original Jurisdiction

When a case starts in a court (the court hears it first).

Appellate Jurisdiction

When a court reviews a lower court’s decision.

Precedent

A past court decision used to guide future cases.

Writ of Certiorari

An order from the Supreme Court to review a lower court case.

Rule of Four

At least 4 justices must agree to hear a case.

Court of Appeals

A court that reviews decisions from lower courts.

Majority Opinion

The official decision of the court that most justices agree on.

Circuit

A geographic area served by a federal court of appeals.

Litigant

A person involved in a lawsuit.

Judicial Restraint

When judges avoid overturning laws and follow precedent.

Judicial Activism

When judges are willing to overturn laws and make new interpretations.

Dissenting Opinion

An opinion written by justices who disagree with the majority decision.

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• Precedent = past court decisions used to guide future cases

• Helps create consistency and fairness in the legal system

• Stare decisis = “let the decision stand” (follow previous rulings)

• Following precedent supports judicial restraint (less change, stability)

• Overturning precedent supports judicial activism (more change, new interpretation)

• Precedent can shape how the Constitution is interpreted over time