Courts
Random topics
Decisions
Landmark Cases
Checks and Balances
100
Most Federal court cases start in this court. 
What is the U.S. District Court.
100
This is used by the President to test the ideological purity of a potential Supreme Court nominee. 
What is the litmus test?
100

This translates to "let the decision stand" and means upholding precedent or the lower court's decision. 

What is stare decisis?
100
This example of a class-action lawsuit resulted it the desegregation of schools in America. 
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
100
This branch has the power to impeach judges and create new courts. 
What is the legislative branch?
200
This Federal court has both original and appellate jurisdiction.
What is the Supreme Court?
200
This is a tradition by which the president consults with a Senator of the state in which a District judge will serve. 
What is Senatorial Courtesy?
200
This type of decision is unsigned by the justices. 
What is Per Curiam? 
200
This case established the principle of Judicial Review. 
What is Marbury v. Madison?
200
The president appoints judges, but this power is checked by this body. 
What is the Senate?
300
Because the United States has a federal system of government, it has this type of court system. 
What is a Dual Court system?
300
This chief justice is known for his many activist decisions that impacted American society in the 1960s. 
Who is Earl Warren?
300
This type of decision is written by a justice who in the majority, but has a different reason than the other justices in the majority. 
What is a concurring opinion?
300
This case established expanded the power of congress to pass laws under the "necessary and proper" clause.
What is McCullough v. Maryland?
300
Once appointed, federal judges are independent of the people and other branches because of this. 
What is life tenure?
400
In this document written by Alexander Hamilton, the judicial branch is described as the weakest of the three. 
What is Federalist 78?
400
This is what is needed for the Supreme Court to issue a writ of certiorari. 
What is 4 justices to agree - the Rule of Four?
400
A decision that creates a new policy or sets a new precedent is often referred to as this.
What is  judicial activism? 
400
According to this decision, only the Federal government can regulate interstate commerce. 
What is Gibbons v. Ogden?
400
Congress has this additional check on the Supreme Court.
What is congress can change the number of justices?
500
Four justices have to agree in order for this court to hear a case. 
What is the Supreme Court? 
500
This is most likely outcome to a petition for writ of certiorari. 
What is it will be denied? 
500
To influence a judicial decision, interest groups and other interested parties can submit these. 
What is amicus brief?
500
According to this case, Federal laws related to commerce that do not affect interstate commerce are unconstitutional. 
What is U.S. v. Lopez?
500
This is the only way that Congress can check the Supreme Court's decisions. 
What is amend the Constitution?
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