Chp16 AP GOV

CHP 16

Standing

• Importance: Determines who can bring a case to court.

• Connection: Ensures proper parties are involved in legal disputes.

• Meaning: Legal right to initiate a lawsuit.

Plaintiff

• Importance: Party bringing a case to court.

• Connection: Essential in initiating legal proceedings.

• Meaning: Individual or group filing a lawsuit.

Defendant

• Importance: Party being sued or accused in court.

• Connection: Central to legal disputes.

• Meaning: Individual or entity against whom a lawsuit is filed.

Class Action Suits

• Importance: Allows large groups to sue collectively.

• Connection: Efficiently addresses widespread issues.

• Meaning: Lawsuits representing a group with common claims.

Amicus Curiae Briefs

• Importance: Provides additional perspectives to court cases.

• Connection: Influences judicial decision-making.

• Meaning: "Friend of the court" briefs submitted by non-parties.

Judiciary Act of 1789

• Importance: Established federal judiciary structure.

• Connection: Foundation of the U.S. court system.

• Meaning: Law creating the federal court system.

Original Jurisdiction

• Importance: Court's authority to hear cases first.

• Connection: Differentiates from appellate jurisdiction.

• Meaning: Authority to hear cases initially.

Appellate Jurisdiction

• Importance: Authority to review lower court decisions.

• Connection: Ensures fairness and correct application of law.

• Meaning: Power to review and modify lower court rulings.

District Courts

• Importance: Handle the majority of federal cases.

• Connection: First level in federal court system.

• Meaning: Trial courts of the federal system.

Courts of Appeal

• Importance: Review decisions from district courts.

• Connection: Intermediate appellate courts.

• Meaning: Federal courts reviewing lower court rulings.

Supreme Court

• Importance: Highest court in the United States.

• Connection: Final authority on constitutional issues.

• Meaning: Ultimate judicial authority.

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Senatorial Courtesy

• Importance: Influences judicial appointments.

• Connection: Tradition affecting nominee approval.

• Meaning: Custom where senators influence judicial appointments in their states.

Supreme Court Selection Process

• Importance: Determines how justices are chosen.

• Connection: Critical for judicial independence and quality.

• Meaning: Procedure for nominating and confirming justices.

Vetting

• Importance: Ensures nominees are qualified.

• Connection: Part of the selection process.

• Meaning: Thorough background check.

Paper Trial

• Importance: Provides evidence of qualifications.

• Connection: Supports vetting and nomination.

• Meaning: Documentation of a nominee's background.

Selecting Cases

• Importance: Determines which cases the Supreme Court hears.

• Connection: Focuses on significant legal questions.

• Meaning: Process for choosing cases for review.

Writs of Certiorari

• Importance: Request for the Supreme Court to hear a case.

• Connection: Central to case selection.

• Meaning: Order to lower court to deliver case records for review.

Rule of Four

• Importance: Criteria for Supreme Court to accept a case.

• Connection: Ensures minority input in case selection.

• Meaning: Four justices must agree to hear a case.

Solicitor General

• Importance: Represents the federal government in Supreme Court.

• Connection: Key role in legal strategy and case presentation.

• Meaning: Chief lawyer for the government in Supreme Court cases.

Opinions

• Importance: Explain the court's reasoning in decisions.

• Connection: Provide legal precedents.

• Meaning: Written explanations of court decisions.

Majority Opinion

• Importance: Reflects the views of the majority of justices.

• Connection: Binding precedent.

• Meaning: Court's official decision.

Concurring Opinion

• Importance: Agrees with majority but for different reasons.

• Connection: Provides additional perspectives.

• Meaning: Separate opinion agreeing with the outcome.

Dissenting Opinion

• Importance: Disagrees with the majority decision.

• Connection: Provides alternative legal reasoning.

• Meaning: Opinion opposing the majority view.

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Stare Decisions

• Importance: Principle of adhering to precedent.

• Connection: Ensures legal stability and predictability.

• Meaning: Doctrine of following established rulings.

Precedent

• Importance: Guides future judicial decisions.

• Connection: Basis for legal consistency.

• Meaning: Previous court rulings used as references.

Judicial Implementation

• Importance: Enforces court decisions.

• Connection: Translates rulings into action.

• Meaning: Process of putting judicial decisions into practice.

Original Intent

• Importance: Interprets the Constitution based on framers' intentions.

• Connection: Guides judicial interpretation.

• Meaning: Understanding Constitution as originally intended.

Marbury v. Madison

• Importance: Established judicial review.

• Connection: Foundation for Supreme Court's authority.

• Meaning: Landmark case asserting judicial power to declare laws unconstitutional.

Judicial Review

• Importance: Allows courts to invalidate unconstitutional laws.

• Connection: Ensures checks and balances.

• Meaning: Power to review and nullify government actions.

Judicial Restraint

• Importance: Advocates minimal judicial interference.

• Connection: Emphasizes legislative and executive authority.

• Meaning: Philosophy of limited judicial intervention.

Judicial Activism

• Importance: Encourages courts to address societal issues.

• Connection: Supports dynamic interpretation of laws.

• Meaning: Philosophy endorsing proactive judicial roles.

The Supreme Court and Public Opinion

• Importance: Reflects societal values in decisions.

• Connection: Influences and is influenced by public sentiment.

• Meaning: Interaction between court rulings and public attitudes.