Lesson 3 P1: The Judiciary Branch

50 vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to the Judicial Branch and the U.S. court system based on lecture notes.

Subject matter (Federal Courts)

Federal courts consider cases meriting federal consideration due to claims arising under the Constitution, federal laws, treaties, or maritime law.

The parties (Federal Courts)

Federal courts consider cases warranting federal consideration because the parties are the U.S., a state, citizens of different states, or representatives of foreign countries.

Jurisdiction

The court in which a case can be properly filed and heard.

Original jurisdiction

The authority to be the first court to hear and decide a case.

Precedent

Previous caselaw that supports a current finding and relates to the case before the court.

Reversed

When a court overturns a lower court’s ruling.

Remand

When an upper court makes a ruling on an issue and sends the case back to a lower court for judgment consistent with its ruling.

Affirmed

When a court rules in favor of a lower court’s holding.

Plaintiff

The party filing a petition against another party in a civil case.

Prosecutor

The party (the government) filing criminal charges against another party.

Respondent

The party being sued in a civil case.

Defendant

The party being accused of a crime in a criminal case.

Civil cases

Cases filed by people seeking civil remedies.

Criminal cases

Cases filed by the government charging a party with a crime.

Article III

The section of the Constitution that established the Supreme Court, authorized Congress to create lower courts, and defined SCOTUS jurisdiction.

Appellate jurisdiction (SCOTUS)

The authority of SCOTUS to hear all cases falling under the jurisdiction of lower federal courts, with exceptions and regulations that Congress makes.

Federal Question Jurisdiction (lower courts)

Cases arising under the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties.

Admiralty and maritime laws

Specific laws related to navigation and shipping that fall under federal court jurisdiction.

Treason

A crime specifically defined in Article III concerning levying war against the U.S. or adhering to their enemies.

Diversity Jurisdiction

Cases involving citizens of different states or citizens of a state and a foreign state, typically when the amount in controversy exceeds a threshold of $75,000.

Lower courts/District courts

Courts that consider the FACTS of a case, review evidence and testimony, and issue verdicts and sentences.

Bench trial

A trial conducted by a judge without a jury.

Jury trial

A trial where a jury reviews evidence and testimony to determine a verdict.

Verdict

The determination of guilt or innocence in a trial.

Sentence

The punishment issued after a verdict of guilt in a trial.

Appellate courts

Courts that consider the LAW as applied by a lower court to determine if a mistake was made in its ruling.

Judiciary Act of 1789

Legislation that established a 3-layered federal court system: 1 Supreme Court, 3 circuit courts, and 13 district courts.

Writs of mandamus

Court orders commanding a public official to perform a task, a power initially established for SCOTUS but later declared unconstitutional in Marbury v. Madison.

Legislative courts

Courts created by Congress to provide technical expertise on specialized subjects, with judges serving fixed, overlapping terms.

Constitutional courts

Courts established by Congress, including federal district courts, courts of appeal, and SCOTUS, with judges serving lifetime terms conditioned on 'good behavior'.

U.S. District Courts (purpose)

The main trial courts of the federal system, exercising only original jurisdiction to hear cases like federal question, U.S. as a party, or diversity jurisdiction cases.

Three-judge district court panels

Ad hoc panels formed to hear cases, originally for state laws' constitutionality, later limited to legislative apportionment and voting rights cases.

U.S. Court of Appeals

Intermediate appellate courts that hear cases from district courts within their circuit, primarily making determinations of law.

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Created in 1982 to hear appeals relating to foreign trade, monetary claims against the federal government, trademarks, and patent disputes.

En banc court

When all judges of an appellate circuit preside over a very important case, rather than a typical three-judge panel.

Washington, D.C. Circuit

An appellate circuit court that specializes in administrative and regulatory law, from which many SCOTUS justices have originated.

Chief Justice

The presiding judge of the Supreme Court, responsible for leading public sessions, assigning opinions, administering oaths, and presiding over impeachment proceedings.

Lifetime appointment (Judiciary)

Judges in Constitutional courts, including SCOTUS justices, serve terms that end on death, resignation, or impeachment, conditioned on 'good behavior'.

Writ of certiorari

An order from SCOTUS to a lower court to send a record of the case to determine if the law was correctly interpreted and applied.

Rule of four

The requirement that four justices must vote to grant certiorari for SCOTUS to hear a case.

Standing

A prerequisite for bringing a case, requiring a plaintiff to have suffered an actual or imminent injury caused by the defendant's actions, which relief could redress.

Ripeness

A requirement for bringing a case, satisfied if a plaintiff can show harm has occurred or will imminently occur, ensuring there's a current controversy.

Mootness

A condition where a controversy ceases to exist at any point during litigation, generally preventing SCOTUS from hearing a case unless specific exceptions apply.

Ashwander Rules

Guiding principles from a Supreme Court concurring opinion that outline judicial self-restraint, such as not offering advisory opinions or ruling on constitutional questions prematurely.

Political Question Doctrine

The principle that SCOTUS will refuse to hear a case if it directly relates to a political question that is better suited for another branch of government.

Senatorial Courtesy

The practice where the nominating president extends to senators of his party the courtesy of first approval/selection of a prospective nominee for a federal district court in their state.

Blue Slip Procedure

A process where the Senate Judiciary Committee chairperson sends 'blue slips' to home-state senators of a nominee; non-return can lead to the nomination being dropped.

ABA Rating System

The American Bar Association's system for vetting judicial nominees, providing feedback as 'Well Qualified,' 'Qualified,' and 'Not Qualified'.

Roger Brooke Taney

The first Catholic Justice appointed to SCOTUS in 1836.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

The first Female African-American Justice appointed to SCOTUS in 2022.