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ch 16, 4, 5
judiciary, civil rights, civil liberties
44
History
12th Grade
10/10/2010

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Cards

Term
criminal law
Definition
gov charges an individual who violated specific laws i.e. robbery
Term
civil law
Definition
no charge of criminality; dispute b/w 2 parties i.e. divorce
Term
judges
Definition
policymakers of American jud. system
Term
standing to sue
Definition
plaintiffs must have serious interest in case
Term
class action suits
Definition
permit a small # of people to sue on behalf of all other people in sim. circumstances i.e. environmental protection
Term
justiciable disputes
Definition
issues that are capable of being settled by legal methods
Term
what kind of cases to interest groups seek out?
Definition
strong ones
Term
examples of interest groups?
Definition
NAACP, ACLU
Term
amicus curiae briefs
Definition
attempt to influence the court's decision, raise additional points of view & present info not contained in the briefs of attys doing the actual arguing
Term
equality of access does not necessarily mean?
Definition
equality of representation
Term
original jurisdiction
Definition
courts in which a case is heard first, usually a trial
Term
what happens in original jurisdiction?
Definition
1. facts are determined about a case 2. determine whether it is crim. or civ.
Term
appellate jurisdiction
Definition
hear cases brought to them on appeal from a lower court
Term
the 91 district courts are usually entry points for what?
Definition
most litigation in the federal courts
Term
the 91 district courts do NOT hear what?
Definition
appeals
Term
where are 98% of all criminal cases in the U.S. heard?
Definition
state and local court systems
Term
the vast majority of civil cases are settled where?
Definition
outside of court
Term
diversity of citizenship
Definition
civ. suits b/w citizens of different states/countries
Term
name people who assist district judges?
Definition
clerks, bailiffs, law clerks, stenographers, court reporters, probation officers
Term
U.S. Marshals are assigned to each district to do what?
Definition
protect judicial process & serve writs that judges issue
Term
how long are the terms of fed. magistrates? what do they do?
Definition
8 yrs; give out warrants
Term
each of the 91 district courts have a? how are they different from supreme court justices?
Definition
U.S. atty; they are appted by the Pres and confirmed by the Senate, but they are not lifetime appointments
Term
courts of appeal hear no what?
Definition
trials or testimony
Term
the supreme court has both what?
Definition
original AND appellate jurisdiction
Term
how many justices?
Definition
9
Term
the supreme court does not settle matters of what?
Definition
state law/determine the guilt or innocence of a state criminal
Term
senatorial courtesy
Definition
unwritten tradition; noms from lower-court positions are not confirmed when opposed by a senator from the state in which the nominee is to serve
Term
because of senatorial courtesy, presidents do what to avoid what?
Definition
check carefully w/ senators ahead of time to avoid failed confirmation
Term
why are supreme court noms important from a president's perspective?
Definition
most important legacy to nation
Term
justice noms run into trouble when?
Definition
1. Pres' party is a minority in the Senate 2. nom is made at end of term
Term
what is the first step of policymaking in the courts?
Definition
deciding what to decide about
Term
who helps justices and does most of the reading?
Definition
law clerks
Term
rule of four
Definition
if 4 justices agree to grant review of a case
Term
unlike appellate courts/Supreme Court, original juris. can't what?
Definition
set its own agenda
Term
writ of certioari
Definition
formal doc. that calls up a case
Term
what kinds of cases are most likely to be selected by the supreme court?
Definition
1. civil liberties 2. conflict b/w different lower courts on interp of fed. law 3. disagreement b/w a majority of the s. court and lower-court decisions
Term
judicial implementation
Definition
how & whether court decisions are translated into actual policy
Term
two sides to how the supreme court makes their decisions?
Definition
1. judicial restraint 2. jud. activism
Term
jud. restraint
Definition
judges adhere closely to precedent and play minimal policymaking roles
Term
jud. activism
Definition
judges make bolder policy decisions
Term
Nine Old Men
Definition
New Deal era Supreme Court
Term
courts are possibly the most ____ and least ____ what?
Definition
most elite and least democratic institution
Term
political questions
Definition
a means to avoid deciding some cases, principally those that involve conflicts between Congress & the Pres
Term
statutory construction
Definition
when a court interps an act of Congress, then the legislature routinely passes legislation the clarifies existing laws and, in effect, overturns courts
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