Civics Vocab List #3

Bureaucracy

a system of management and administration in a government or large organization that is run by a group of unelected officials following stricti, established rules

Cabinet

a high-level advisory and decision-making body composed of the senior-most officials in the executive branch

Administration

the practical management, organization, and execution of public policies and laws by the executive branch

Treaties

a formal, legally binding written agreement between sovereign countries or international organizations that is governed by international law

Executive Privilege

the power claimed by the U.S. President and high-level executive branch officials to keep certain internal communications, documents, and discussions secret from Congress, the courts, and the public

Courts of Appeals

a higher legal body that reviews decisions made by lower trial courts to check if laws were applied correctly and fairly

Circuit Courts

a judicial body that either operates within a specific geographic region or historically traveled a designated route (“on circuit”) to hold trials across multiple locations

Precedent

a past court decision that serves as an authoritative rule or guide for deciding later cases with similar facts or legal issues

Original Jurisdiction

a court’s power to hear and decide a case for the first time any review by a higher court

Appeal

a formal legal process in which a party asks a higher court to review and change a decision made by a lower court