Federal Court System
Supreme Court
Laws
Judges and Juries
Misc.
100
The number of levels in the federal court system.
What is three? From lowest to highest, the federal tiers consist of the U.S. District Courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
100
The number of cases heard by the Supreme Court has done this since the 1980?
What is decreased? Today, the Supreme Court hears about one hundred cases each year.
100
This body of law has to do with wrongful actions committed against society for which society demands redress - namely a fine or imprisonment.
What is criminal law?
100
Federal judges are appointed by the president with the advice and consent of the Senate and receive their appointment for this duration of time.
What is their lifetime? Federal judges may only be removed through death, retirement or impeachment. There are no official requirements for federal judges, although they have all been attorneys.
100
This body of law is the body of law created by government agencies in the form of rules, regulations, orders, and decisions.
What is administrative law?
200
A court at the appellate level makes a decision based on the written record of the case, the legal briefs of the attorneys, and may also hear THESE arguments.
What are oral arguments? The U.S. Supreme Court does most of its work at an appellate level.
200
When the Supreme Court interprets a statute in a way that Congress did not intend, this is one of the remedies available to Congress.
What is revise the law or pass a new one in an attempt to negate the Court's ruling?
200
Laws enacted by legislatures are called this.
What are statutory laws? Unless they conflict with the U.S. Constitution or a federal law, state constitutions are supreme within the borders of their respective states.
200
This opinion is a statement written by a justice who agrees with the Court's decision, but for reasons different from those outlined in the majority opinion.
What is a concurring opinion? Justices may also write dissenting opinions outlining the reasons they feel the majority erred in arriving at its decision.
200
This is the power of the courts to decide on the constitutionality of legislative enactments and of actions taken by the executive branch.
What is judicial review?
300
These are known as the federal trial courts.
What are the U.S. District Courts?
300
The number of justices that sit on the Supreme Court.
What is nine?
300
This body of law spells out the duties that individuals in society owe to other persons or their government, excluding the duty not to commit crimes.
What is civil law?
300
A nominee for the Supreme Court must be confirmed by this?
What is a majority vote of the Senate?
300
These laws are enacted by the U.S. Congress and apply to all the states.
What are federal statutes?
400
This level of court hears appeals from the U.S. district courts located within their respective judicial circuits?
What are the U.S. Courts of Appeals? The decisions of the federal appellate courts may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
400
When the Supreme Court reaches a decision, the chief justice (if in the majority) assigns this task.
What is write the majority opinion?
400
This body of law developed from judicial decisions in English and U.S. courts.
What is common law?
400
President Obama appointed these two justices to the U.S. Supreme Court within two years of taking office.
Who are Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan?
400
This is the requirement that an individual must have a sufficient stake in a controversy before he or she can bring a lawsuit.
What is standing to sue? In addition, the court itself must have jurisdiction before it can hear and decide a particular case. Before a federal court can take jurisdiction in a diversity case, the amount in controversy must be more than $75,000.
500
When the Supreme Court issues THIS, it means that the decision of the lower court remains the law within that court's jurisdiction.
What is a denial of "cert."? The U.S. Supreme Court will not issue a writ of certiorari to hear a case unless at least FOUR of the justices approve.
500
A decision of a state supreme court may be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court only when this is involved.
What is a federal question?
500
This judge-made law is one of the distinguishing characteristics of the common law tradition.
What is case law?
500
The U.S. Constitution provides for jury trials here.
What are the Bill of Rights and Article III?
500
A court decision that furnishes an example or authority for deciding subsequent cases provides this.
What is precedent?
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