ap gov judicial branch vocab

fed #78

judicial independence

- they don't serve a constituency

- life tenure

affirmative action

a policy designed to give special attention to or compensatory treatment for members of a previously disadvantaged group.

standing to sue

the legal right to bring a lawsuit to court if they can prove they have a serious interest in the case, and are likely to suffer from some sort of injury as a result of the situation

amicus curiae

- "friend of the court."

- refers to interested groups or individuals, not directly involved in a suit, who may file legal briefs or oral arguments in support of one side.

original jurisdiction

- the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court

- supreme court has this power with all cases involving foreign representatives

appellate jurisdiction

- reviews appeals/decisions made by lower courts

district courts

lowest level of federal courts

supreme court

highest federal court

senatorial courtesy

presidential appointments are confirmed by the senate

solicitor general

the government's represenative in cases that go before the supreme court

judicial opinion

a written opinion that explains a judge's standpoint on a decision, and explains the reasoning for the decision

doctrine of stare decisis

principle that courts should follow precedent

precedent

a previous decision that is used to influence and help decide a new court case

original intent

- constitution should be interpreted according to the original intent of the framers

judicial implementation

how judicial decisions are translated into actual public policies

marbury v. madison

established judicial review

u.s. v. nixon

supreme court held that executive privilege does not extend to criminal cases

judicial review

the power of the courts to determine constitutionality of laws

judicial restraint

- a philosophy proposing judges should limit the exercise of their own power

- judges should not play a big role in policy-making

judicial activism

- a philosophy proposing that judges should interpret the Constitution to reflect current conditions, values, and needs of the nation

- these needs + current conditions can influence judicial decisions

political questions

conflicts that should be resolved between the president and congress, as they are inappropriate for judicial resolution

writ of certiorari

a formal writ used to bring a case before the supreme court

bill of attainder

a law that declares a person, without a trial, to be guilty of a crime