AP GOV: judicial branch vocab

Original Jurisdiction: The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

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

Stare Decisis: The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.

Precedent: A legal decision or form of proceeding serving as an authoritative rule or pattern in future similar or analogous cases.

District Courts: The general trial courts of the United States federal court system.

Courts of Appeal: Intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system that review decisions of district courts.

Brief: A written legal argument presented to a court by a party to a lawsuit.

Senatorial Courtesy: A custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state.

Solicitor General: A legal officer who represents the U.S. government before the Supreme Court.

Judicial Review: The power of courts to assess whether a law or government action is constitutional.

Judicial Restraint: A judicial philosophy that encourages judges to limit the exercise of their own power.

Judicial Activism: A judicial philosophy that encourages judges to interpret laws and the constitution in a way that reflects contemporary values and conditions.

Judicial Constructionist: A judge who interprets the Constitution in a way that applies the intentions of its framers to modern situations.

Amicus Curiae Briefs: Legal documents filed in appellate court cases by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter.

Interest Group: An organization that seeks to influence public policy.

Enumerated Powers: Powers specifically granted to the federal government by the Constitution.

Implied Powers: Powers not explicitly named in the Constitution but assumed to exist due to their being necessary to implement the expressed powers.

Cooperative Federalism: A concept of federalism where national, state, and local governments interact cooperatively and collectively to solve common problems.