StudyGuide_Quarter_1_exam

Key Legal Concepts

• Habeas Corpus

  • Legal principle that allows a person to challenge unlawful detention.

  • Ensures that no one is held in custody without being charged or given a fair trial.

• Ex Post Facto

  • Legal right to prevent laws from being enacted that penalizes actions retroactively.

• Standing to Sue

  • A legal right to bring a lawsuit in court; requires a person to have suffered actual harm or have a direct interest in the case.

• Class Action Lawsuit

  • A lawsuit where one or several persons sue on behalf of a larger group of people.

• Double Jeopardy

  • The protection that prevents a person from being tried twice for the same crime in the same jurisdiction.

U.S. Court Systems

• There are two main court systems in the United States:

  • Federal Courts

  • State Courts

• Court Systems Overview:

  • Criminal Law: Involves laws broken against the state, e.g., theft, assault.

  • Civil Law: Deals with disputes between individuals.

• Federal District Courts:

  • Typically have original jurisdiction.

  • 94 District Courts in total.

• Courts of Appeal:

  • 13 Circuit Courts that handle appeals from the District Courts.

Key Definitions

• Plaintiff:

  • The party who brings a lawsuit against another party.

• Defendant:

  • The party being sued or accused in court.

• Justiciable Dispute:

  • A dispute that can be resolved through legal methods and is not hypothetical or political.

Federal Courts and Jurors

• The only federal court that holds trials with witnesses and evidence:

  • U.S. District Courts.

• Juror Information:

  • Typically 12 jurors seated in a federal court.

• The only federal court that seats jurors:

  • The U.S. District Courts.

Structure of Federal Courts

• Three Levels of Federal Courts:

  1. District Courts: Trial courts.

  2. Courts of Appeal: Appellate courts.

  3. Supreme Court: Final authority on legal matters.

• Appellate Courts:

  • hear cases brought before them by smaller panels or en banc, where all judges hear a case.

Important Amendments and Rights

• Bill of Rights:

  • First Ten Amendments to the Constitution that outline individual rights.

• Key Amendments in Bill of Rights:

  • First Amendment: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.

  • Second Amendment: Right to bear arms.

Inquiry and Research

• Supreme Court Case Examples:

  • Students may be asked to choose cases and explain their significance.

• Searchable Terms:

  • Engel v. Vitale, Mapp v. Ohio, New York Times v. United States, etc.

• For further details, refer to legal resources provided or specific case links provided during your studies.