1
Which courts hear the vast majority of cases in the United States?
state courts
Which courts serve as the trial courts of the federal system?
district courts
Who makes a legal complaint in a court proceeding?
plaintiff
Which type of jurisdiction is held by a court that reviews the proceedings of a lower court?
appellate jurisdiction
What type of cases would be handled in a civil trial?
Disputes over property, injury claims, and family law matters such as divorce and child custody
(usually but not always involve money)
Congress and the states can check the federal judiciary by
amending the Constitution
What kind of cases makes up the major part of the Supreme Court’s load?
appeals
Which term refers to previous court rulings?
precedent
The concept that a judge should interpret the Constitution according to the Framers’ original intention is known as judicial
restraint
Which group gathers to hear evidence of a possible crime and to recommend whether there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges?
grand jury
What is the main job of a federal district court judge?
presiding over trials
How many justices does the Supreme Court have today?
nine
Which term refers to the legal process by which people who cannot pay money they owe others can receive court protection and assistance in settling their debts?
bankruptcy
Who holds the power to impeach a federal judge?
Congress
What is the U.S. attorney’s job?
representing the United States in court
Who provides security at federal courthouses?
U.S. marshals
The Framers thought that making federal judgeships permanent would help ensure
judicial independence.
Which of the following refers to the immunity a nation has against being sued?
sovereign immunity
The written arguments of each side to an appeal are called
briefs.
Who served as chief justice when the Supreme Court reached the height of its liberal era?
Earl Warren
In the process of hearing a case, what do Supreme Court justices do after reading the written briefs?
listen to oral arguments
If members of the military violate the Uniform Code of Military Justice, they are subject to prosecution in a
court-martial.
What was President Franklin Roosevelt’s reason for wanting to “pack” the Supreme Court?
so New Deal programs would survive legal challenge
After the Civil War, the Supreme Court tended to view economic regulation as something that
the states should handle.
A majority opinion is one that is signed by at least how many members of the Supreme Court?
Five