civics vocab ch. 8

Circuit

the area of jurisdiction of a federal court of appeals

jurisdiction

a courts authority to hear and decide cases

exclusive jurisdiction

authority of only federal courts to hear and decide cases

district court

federal court where trials are held and lawsuits are begun

original jurisdiction

the authority to hear cases for the first time

appeals court

a court that reviews decisions made in a lower court

appellate jurisdiction

the authority of a court to hear a case appealed from a lower court

remand

to send a case back to a lower court to be trial again.

opinion

a detailed explanation of the legal thinking behind a courts decision in a case

precedent

a ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later similar case

judicial review

the power of the supreme court to say whether any federal, state, or local law or gov action goes against the constitution

constitutional

in accordance with the constitution

docket

a courts calendar, showing the schedule of cases it is to hear

brief

a written document explaining the position of one side or the other in a case

majority opinion

a statement that presents the views of the majority of Supreme Court Justices

unanimous opinion

the supreme court rules on a case in which all justices agree on the ruling

concurring opinion

a statement written by a justice who votes with the majority, but for different reasons

dissenting opinion

a statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his/her opinion

stare decisis

the practice of using earlier judicial readings as a basis for deciding cases