Structure of the Judicial Branch
Article of the Constitution that gave Congress power to create lower courts
What is Article III
States that the president appoints all federal judges, including Supreme Court Justices
What is Article II, Section 2
The practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers
What is bicameralism
Name at least three specific powers given to the president by the Constitution
Answers vary, could be what are:
Can veto or reject bills passed in Congress
Can call Congress to a special session
Commander in Chief of armed forces
Receives foreign officials/leaders
Can make treaties
Names heads of executive agencies, judges, ambassadors etc.
Can pardon or reduce penalties
Established district and circuit courts
What is the Judiciary Act of 1789
An order a higher court issues to a lower court to obtain the records of the lower court in a particular case
What is a writ of certiorari
House of Congress with 435 members and proportional voting
What is the House of Representatives
Heads of the departments in the executive office make up this group of presidential advisers
What is the Cabinet
System in which the federal courts exist alongside the 50 state's independent court system
What is the Dual Court System
Type of cases Supreme Court Justices tend to select
What are cases involving legal issues
Article of the Constitution that describes the powers and limits given to the Legislative Branch
What is Article I of the Constitution
What is to
Write rules that put laws passed by Congress into practice
Carry out day to day activities of the federal government
Oversee certain activities
Three levels of the federal court system
What is (in no particular order) The U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Courts of Appeals, and U.S. District Courts
A written document that explains the position of one side or the other in a case
What is a brief
Requirements to become a member of the Senate
What are:
Being at least 25 years old
Being an U.S. citizen for at least 9 years
Living in the state that they represent
What are:
Executive Agencies: Independent agency that deals with certain specific areas within government
Ex. NASA, CIA, EPA
Government Corporations: A business owned and operated by the federal government
Ex. USPS
Regulatory Commissions: Independent agency created by Congress that can make rules concerning certain activities and bring violators to court
Ex. FCC
Federal cases must involve the following three aspects
What is the Constitution, federal law, or the federal government
Thee practice of using earlier judicial rulings as a basis for deciding cases
What is Stare Decisis
All members of Congress must take this before they begin their service
What is an oath to follow the Constitution
The president can do this to reject bills passed in Congress
What is veto