Organization of Court System
Individual Rights
Legal Jargon
Supreme Court
I'll Take You to Court, Son!
100
What is the authority of a court to hear (to try and decide) a case called?
Jurisdiction
100
The freedom of speech is guaranteed in what amendment?
First amendment
100
Who is the plaintiff?
the person who files the suit, brings the charges
100
The Supreme Court has the power to decide the constitutionality of an act of government. This is known as ___________
Judicial Review
100
The sixth amendment guarantees that individuals have a right to a _____ trial. The case must be heard within 100 days of arrest.
speedy
200
A court in which a case is first heard is said to have __________ jurisdiction over that case.
original
200
The Constitution protects U.S. citizens from having to face charges for the same offense twice, known as _______________
double jeopardy
200
Judicial decisions that serve as a guide for settling cases of a similar nature are known as ______________
Precedent
200
This Supreme Court case in 1800 established the power of Judicial Review
Marbury v. Madison
200
A Grand Jury's verdict to convict someone of a crime must be (a majority vote, a plurality vote, or unanimous)
unanimous
300
In a federal courts, a _____________ is one in which a defendant is tried for committing some action that Congress has declared by law to be a federal crime.
criminal case
300
Individuals are guaranteed the right to communicate ideas by their conduct, by the way they do a particular thing. This expression by conduct is known as _________
Symbolic speech
300
One or more justices on the majority side may write a _________________ usually to make some point not made or not emphasized in the majority opinion.
Concurring opinion
300
The Supreme Court has two kinds of jurisdiction...what are they?
original (any case involving a State or those affecting ambassadors) appellate (how most cases are heard)
300
As stated in the Miranda rights, every person accused has the right to an _________ if they cannot afford one themselves.
attorney
400
These 94 courts handle more than 300,000 cases per year, about 80 percent of the federal caseload.
U.S. district courts
400
The Constitution guarantees that whatever the government does it must act fairly and in accord with established rules. It may not act unfairly, arbitrarily, or unreasonably. This is known as
Due Process
400
Amicus curiae briefs are written by whom?
"Friends of the court" third parties who have an interest in the outcome of a particular outcome of a case
400
What is the political make-up of the Court today? List how many liberal, conservative, and swing vote justices there are on the court today.
4 liberals (Sotomayor, Kagan, Breyer, Ginsburg), 4 conservatives (Roberts, Scalia, Thomas, Alito), 1 swing vote (Kennedy)
400
According to the Fourth Amendment, police officers need a __________ in order to search or seize your possessions. The government cannot illegally search or take your property.
search warrant
500
The ____________ were established as "gatekeepers" to relieve the Supreme Court of much of the burden of hearing appeals from the decisions of district courts.
U.S. Court of Appeals or U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
500
The _______________ is intended to prevent unjust arrests and imprisonments. It commands that a prisoner be brought before the court and that the officer show cause-explain with good reason-why the prisoner shouldn't be released.
writ of habeas corpus
500
These courts were created by President George W. Bush to serve as separate legal bodies to try "unlawful enemy combatants".
Military Commissions or tribunals
500
The Supreme Court can take three actions when a case is appealed to the Court. What are the actions?
1. The Supreme Court allows the lower court ruling to stand 2. The Supreme Court remands the case-sends it back to lower court for reconsideration. 3. The Supreme Court decides the case.
500
The government must balance one's right to _________ such as the freedom of speech or protection against unreasonable search and seizures with providing the entire country __________.
Liberty, Security or Order or National Defense
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