Judiciary Vocab Quiz

Amicus curiae

A brief submitted by a friend of the court

Appellate jurisdiction

The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts

Bloc voting

A pattern of voting behavior of two or more justices representing a particular ideological position

Brief

A written statement by an attorney that summarizes a case and the laws and rulings that support it

Civil law

Rules defining relationships among private citizens

Class-action suit

A case brought by someone to help both themselves and all others who are similarly situated

Concurring opinion

A signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view but for different reasons

Constitutional court

A federal court authorized by Article III of the Constitution that keeps judges in office during good behavior

Courts of appeals

Federal courts that hear appeals from district courts

Criminal law

The body of law dealing with crimes and their punishment

Dissenting opinion

A signed opinion in which one or more justices disagree with the majority view

District courts

The lowest federal courts where federal cases begin

Diversity cases

Cases involving citizens of different states who can bring suit in federal courts

Dred Scott v. Sanford

Supreme Court case that decided US Congress did not have the power to prohibit slavery in federal territories

Federal-question cases

Cases concerning the Constitution federal laws or treaties

Fee shifting

A rule that allows a plaintiff to recover costs from the defendant if the plaintiff wins

Friday conference

A closed meeting of the justices to discuss cases and vote

In forma pauperis

A method whereby a poor person can have their case heard in federal court without charge

Judicial activism

The view that judges should discern the general principles underlying laws or the Constitution and apply them to modern circumstances

Judicial restraint approach

The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution

Judicial review

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

Legislative courts

Courts created by Congress for specialized purposes

Litmus test

An examination of the political ideology of a nominated judge

Opinion of the Court

A signed opinion of a majority of the Supreme Court

Per curiam opinion

A brief unsigned court opinion

Plaintiff

The party that initiates a lawsuit

Political question

An issue the Supreme Court will allow the executive and legislative branches to decide

Remedy

A judicial order enforcing a right or redressing a wrong

Senatorial courtesy

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work

Solicitor general

The third-ranking officer in the Justice Department who decides what cases the federal government will appeal from lower courts

Sovereign immunity

The rule that a citizen cannot sue the government without the governments consent

Standing

A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit

Stare decisis

The principle of allowing prior rulings to control the current case

Strict-constructionist approach

The view that judges should decide cases strictly on the basis of the language of the laws and the Constitution

Writ of certiorari

An order by a higher court directing a lower court to send up a case for review