Civil v Criminal
Supreme Court Facts
Latin Class
Opinions and Arguments
SCOTUS Vocab
100

What is a case where it is you vs. the State?

Criminal 

100

Supreme Court sessions are typically how long? 

9 months

100

Sticking with precedent.  "Let the decision stand"

Stare Decisis 

100
term for arguments that both sides supply to the Supreme Court

briefs

100

Overturn a lower court's decision - one of three options for a SCOTUS appeal case.

Reverse

200
In a civil case who are you defending yourself against?

another person, group or private business

200

This position plays a key role in researching, selecting, and writing cases for jusitices. 

clerks

200

Deciding to hear a case and asking the lower courts to send up the documents.

writ of certiorari 

200
Argument shared by the winning side of a Supreme Court case that will be used a precedent in future cases. 

Majority

200

The SCOTUS decision on a case is this. Meaning it serves as precedent for lower courts to follow. 

Binding

300

What type of punishment can only apply to criminal cases? 

Incarceration or jail time.   

300

What percentage of petitioned cases does the SCOTUS hear each year?

1%

300

A "friend of the court" files an argument to influence a Supreme Court ruling

amicus curiae 

300

Opinion that disagrees with the decision that the Supreme Court made. Not used in future precedents. 

Dissenting

300

When SCOTUS upholds a lower court's decision - one of three options for a SCOTUS appeal case. 

Affirm

400

What title describes the government's role in a criminal case, bringing charges against the defendant. 

prosecution

400

How long are oral arguments on SCOTUS cases?

30 mins

400

to hold someone in prison without a trial. 

habeus corpus

400
Additional rational and logic added to the majority opinion, but not used as precedent in future cases.
Concurrent.
400
A "writ of certiorari" is commonly known as granting this...

cert

500

The 7th amendment provides protections for this in civil cases?

trial by jury

500

Why does the rule of four exist?

The Constitution did not lay out how the SCOTUS will choose its cases. 

500

Out of many, one (the motto of the US).


e pluribus unum 

500

When justices meet, discuss cases, and vote in secret. 

judicial conference

500

When SCOTUS sends a case back to the lower courts - one of three options for a SCOTUS appeal case. 

Remand
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