Supreme Court Basics
What is Article III?
This article of the Constitution establishes the Judicial Branch.
What is original jurisdiction?
The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
This 1803 case established judicial review.
What is the Executive Branch?
The branch that appoints federal judges.
What are District Courts?
The lowest level of federal courts.
What is the Supreme Court?
The highest court in the United States.
What is appellate jurisdiction?
The authority of a court to review a lower court’s decision.
What is Brown v. Board of Education?
This 1954 case ended racial segregation in public schools.
What is the Legislative Branch (Senate)?
The branch that confirms Supreme Court nominees.
What are Courts of Appeals?
The middle level of federal courts.
What is life (until retirement, resignation, or death)?
Supreme Court justices are appointed for this length of time.
What is an opinion?
A written explanation of the Court’s decision.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines?
his case protected students’ free speech rights in school.
What is impeachment?
The power Congress has to remove federal judges.
What is three?
There are this many levels in the federal court system.
What is 9?
The number of justices currently serving on the Supreme Court.
What is a writ of certiorari?
A document asking the Supreme Court to hear a case.
What is Miranda v. Arizona?
This case required police to inform suspects of their rights.
What is nominate judges who share their views?
The President can do this to limit the Court’s power by selecting justices.
What is appellate jurisdiction?
Most cases heard by the Supreme Court fall under this type of jurisdiction.
Who is the Chief Justice?
The person who presides over the Supreme Court and leads the judicial branch.
What is judicial review?
When the Supreme Court declares a law unconstitutional.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
This case guaranteed the right to an attorney in criminal cases.
What is the Court’s jurisdiction?
Congress can change this to limit the types of cases federal courts hear.
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What is stare decisis?
The system where courts follow precedents set by higher courts.