AP Gov test before winter break

U.S. District Courts

the court where trial takes place, they handle civil and federal cases

U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals

The court where the appeal takes place (Supreme Court & District)

• they review cases for errors but no retry.

U.S. Supreme Court

The highest court of appeals

Original Jurisdiction

The power to hear a case for the first time (interstate dispute)

• District has original

Appellate Jurisdiction

The power to hear a case for appeal

• the Supreme Court has appellate

Treason

Betraying your country

ex:

1. fighting war against your own country

2. giving aid to enemy

Attorney General

Highest role as a prosector in the u.s

Solicitor general

the lawyer that represents the united state

Federal crimes (some examples)

breaking laws established by the u.s, not just a single state

ex; innterstate kidnapping

Sovereign immunity

States can’t be sued without their immunity consent

Special legislative court

a U.S. federal court created by congress, not the constitution, to handle specific legal areas.

Petitioner and Respondent

Petitioner; Initiates a legal process in court

Respondent; The person or entity being sued and asked to respond to the petitioners claim.

Precedent

A past event, action, or ruling that serves as an example for similar situations or cases later on.

Stare decisis

let the decision stand

Judicial review

The Supreme Court ability to declare laws unconstitutional

Marshall Court

Increase federal power

Midnight judges

Judicial appointments made by John Adams in the final days of his presidency to maintain federalist influence in the Judiciary, leading to apposition from Jeffersons party.

Strict constructionism

If its not permitted, it isn’t allowed.

Loose constructionism

If its not prohibited, its allowed.

Court-packing scandal

FDR (Franklin d Roosevelt) tried to add extra cooperative judges to the Supreme Court.

Warren court

Promoted civil rights

Petition for certiorari

Asking the Supreme Court to hear your case

Writ of certiorari

“More Certain” acceptance letter

Certiorari

When the Supreme Court agrees to take your case

Rule of four

4 supreme court justices must agree on a case

Cert pool

The clerks of the Supreme Court who reads petitions for certiorari

• prevent time from being wasted

• certiorari; keep time from being wasted

Judicial Activism

• Makes rules under their own opinion for the community

• Judges make rulings to advance society

Judicial Restraint

Judges should make rulings that stick to the letter of the law.

Senatorial courtesy

The president asks senators for their opinion about judicial nominees

“Borking”

When a judges career gets ruined by aggressive questioning of theirs views and personal life.

Amicus curiae brief

A 3rd party gives their opinion of a Supreme Court case

Reapportionment

When states gain and lose votes in their house based on population change

Gerrymandering

Drawing districts in a way that gives you an advantage

Party Caucus

An unofficial group of liked minded people in congress who share common interest

Conference committee

When the house and senate cannot agree on the wording of a law so they create a conference committee to agree on a draft.

Log rolling

A political practice of trading votes or favors among legislators to get bills passed.

Pork barrel politics

When legislators secure government funds or projects for their specific districts to win votes and support from constituents

Rules committee

the House of Representatives decides on which bills go to the full chamber floor for debate and votes

• act of gatekeeping

Delegate model

You expect your representative to vote exactly as you would.

Trustee model

you trust your representative to make the right decision

Cloture

3/5 of the senate can vote to end a filibuster early

Filibuster

Talking endlessly in the senate to delay the passage off a bill

Bicameral

The legislative has 2 houses with different powers

Commerce clause

Congress can make rules about interstate trade.

“Power of the purse”

The sole power of congress setting budgets.

Elastic clause

Congress gets unwritten powers to do what’s necessary and proper

Franking Privilege

Incumbent congress people use u.s mail for free

Incumbency

The holding of an office or the period during which one is held

Constituent services

Non-legislative tasks performed by elected officials and their staff to help individuals in their district with issues involving government agencies.

Advice and Consent

The senate gets to vote on president nominations

Party whip

Ensures that fellow political party legislators attend voting sessions and vote according to their parties official policy

President pro tempore

They run things in the absence of the real president

Ways and Means Committee

Hands money and taxes

Joint Committee

A committee that deals with business common to both houses of congress

Standing committee

Permanent committees dedicated to important issues, like health care, and military

Select committee

Temporary committee that are dedicated to specific issue

Congressional oversight

When congress calls in a government official or private person to testify under oath

Riders/Christmas tree bill

Too many amendments on a bill

Constituent Services

Non-legislative tasks performed by elected officials and their staff to help individuals in their district with issues involving government agencies

17th Amendent (1913)

Senators will now be directly elected by the people rather than appointed by state legislatures

27th Amendent (1992)

Congress’s pay raises do not take effect until the following congressional session

Marbury v. Madison (1803)

They decided that the Supreme Court has the power of judicial reviews (the power to declare laws unconstitutional was established)

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)

Slaves are not citizens and have no rights to sue, and the Missouri compromise is unconstitutional. A terrible decision that hastened the Civil War.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

Segregation is legal as long as the facilities are “separate but equal.”

Brown v. Board of Education (1954)

Plessy v. Ferguson is overturned, and integration of public schooling must begin.

Roe v. Wade (1973)

Women have the unconditional right to a first-trimester abortion.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Districts must be proportionately apportioned; that is, they must have roughly equal population.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Race cannot be the sole reason for redistricting an area, even if it is to empower a disenfranchised minority.