Judicial Branch (AP GOV)

Mainstream GoPo moments ~ Chapter 6 review 


After reading chapter 6 in American Government: Stories of a Nation, find the AP Key Concepts located at the end. Please do the following:


ALL WORK MUST BE ORIGINAL AND COMPOSED IN THIS GOOGLE DOC. ANY WORK THAT IS NOT ORIGINAL AND/OR NOT COMPLETED IN THIS DOC WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED OR GRADED. 


1. Define each of the terms (10 points); Define them below:

  • Do not copy and paste the definitions. Put them in your own words 

  • Copy and pasted definitions will not be accepted. Draftback feature will be utilized. 


Federal Judiciary            Supreme Court          Original Jurisdiction          Appellate Jurisdiction     

   

Judicial Review                  Precedent                Stare Decisis                       Majority opinion 


Concurring opinion          dissenting opinion         judicial restraint               Judicial activism 

 

Federal Judiciary - The system of courts that interprets and applies the laws of the United States at the federal level. It includes courts, with SCOTUS at the top. 


Supreme Court - The highest court in the United States, which has ultimate authority in interpreting the Constitution and federal law. It reviews cases from lower federal and state courts and issues decisions that serve as precedent for all other courts. 


Original Jurisdiction - The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, rather than on appeal. 


Appellate Jurisdiction - The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts. 


Judicial Review - The power of the judiciary that was established by Marbury v. Madison, to interpret the Constitution and to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional. 


Precedent - A legal principle established in a previous court case. 


Stare Decisis - The doctrine that courts should follow established precedents when making decisions in similar cases. In Latin it means “to stand by things decided.”


Majority opinion - The official statement by a court’s decision that is agreed upon by more than half of the judges. 


Concurring opinion - An opinion written by a judge/justice who agrees with the outcome of the majority opinion but has different reasoning or wants to emphasize specific points not covered by the majority opinion. 


Dissenting opinion - An opinion written by a judge or justice who disagrees with the majority opinion. Dissenting opinions can provide alternate perspectives on the case and may influence future legal decisions. 


Judicial restraint - A philosophy where judges limit their power by avoiding rulings that make sweeping changes or overturn laws unless absolutely necessary. 


Judicial activism - A philosophy where judges are more willing to interpret the Constitution in a way that results in new policies or societal changes. They are more likely to overturn precedent cases in accordance with society at that time.