Chp16 AP GOV

Standing

Legal right to initiate a lawsuit.

Plaintiff

Individual or group filing a lawsuit.

Defendant

Individual or entity against whom a lawsuit is filed.

Class Action Suits

Lawsuits representing a group with common claims.

Amicus Curiae Briefs

"Friend of the court" briefs submitted by non-parties.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Law creating the federal court system.

Original Jurisdiction

Authority to hear cases initially.

Appellate Jurisdiction

Power to review and modify lower court rulings.

District Courts

Trial courts of the federal system.

Courts of Appeal

Federal courts reviewing lower court rulings.

Supreme Court

Ultimate judicial authority.

Senatorial Courtesy

Custom where senators influence judicial appointments in their states.

Supreme Court Selection Process

Procedure for nominating and confirming justices.

Vetting

Thorough background check.

Paper Trial

Documentation of a nominee's background.

Selecting Cases

Process for choosing cases for review.

Writs of Certiorari

Order to lower court to deliver case records for review.

Rule of Four

Four justices must agree to hear a case.

Solicitor General

Chief lawyer for the government in Supreme Court cases.

Opinions

Written explanations of court decisions.

Majority Opinion

Court's official decision.

Concurring Opinion

Separate opinion agreeing with the outcome.

Dissenting Opinion

Opinion opposing the majority view.

Stare Decisis

Doctrine of following established rulings.

Precedent

Previous court rulings used as references.

Judicial Implementation

Process of putting judicial decisions into practice.

Original Intent

Understanding Constitution as originally intended.

Marbury v. Madison

Landmark case asserting judicial power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Judicial Review

Power to review and nullify government actions.

Judicial Restraint

Philosophy of limited judicial intervention.

Judicial Activism

Philosophy endorsing proactive judicial roles.

The Supreme Court and Public Opinion

Interaction between court rulings and public attitudes.