Basic Facts
What is interpret the laws (and apply them to specific cases)
This is the main job of the Judical Branch.
What is nine?
This many justices serve on the U.S. Supreme Court today.
What is judicial review?
This is the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws or actions unconstitutional.
What are federal courts and state courts?
These are the two main levels of courts in the United States system.
What is the legislative branch (the Senate)?
This branch can approve or reject the President’s Supreme Court nominations.
What is the Supreme Court?
This is the highest court in the United States.
Who is the Chief Justice?
The leader of the Supreme Court has this title.
What is the Constitution (by interpreting what it allows or forbids)?
Judicial review allows the Court to check the power of this written document.
What is a trial court (or district court at the federal level)?
This is the first court to hear a case, where trials are held and evidence is presented.
What is the executive branch?
This branch enforces the decisions made by the Supreme Court.
What are criminal cases and civil cases?
These are the two main types of cases heard in federal courts.
What is life tenure / for life on good behavior?
Supreme Court justices serve for this length of time.
What is a precedent?
This term describes a Supreme Court decision that must be followed by lower courts in future similar cases.
What are appellate courts / courts of appeals?
These courts review decisions made by lower courts and look for errors in how the law was applied.
What is impeachment and removal?
The legislative branch can check the judicial branch with this power that allows them to remove judges from office.
What is the U.S. Constitution?
This document created the judicial branch of the national government.
: What are the executive branch (President nominates) and the legislative branch (Senate confirms)?
These two branches are involved in choosing Supreme Court justices.
It is struck down / no longer in effect.
This happens to a law when the Supreme Court rules it unconstitutional.
What is a criminal case?
This type of case usually involves someone being accused of breaking a law and possibly facing jail or fines.
What is declaring them unconstitutional?
The judicial branch checks the other branches by doing this to their laws or actions.
What is jurisdiction?
This term describes the power of a court to hear and decide a case.
What is four justices?
his is the minimum number of justices who must agree to hear a case for it to be placed on the Supreme Court’s docket
What is judicial restraint?
This idea says that the judicial branch should avoid trying to shape policy and stick closely to the wording of the Constitution and laws.
What is a civil case?
This type of case usually involves a disagreement between people or groups, often about money, property, or rights.
What is proposing and ratifying a constitutional amendment?
Congress can try to respond to a Supreme Court decision they dislike by doing this difficult process to change the Constitution.