Can You Hear Me?
So You Want to be a Justice
Make Your Case
Decide Already!
American Legal Principles
100

This is the authority of a court to hear certain cases.

What is jurisdiction?

100

This institution must provide confirmation to any federal judge. 

What is the Senate?

100

In order to bring a case to court, a person must have this.

What is "standing to sue"?

100

This is the primary job of the Court when it comes to deciding a case.

What is interpreting the law/Constitution?

100

Now the basis of most Judicial branch power, this principle is not found in the Constitution, but rather stems from the decision in Marbury v. Madison.

What is judicial review?

200

Federal district courts have this type of ability to hear certain cases.

What is original jurisdiction?

200

The number of justices on the Court stems from here.

What is Congress?

200

These types of cases allow a small number of people to sue on behalf of all other people similarly situated.

What are class action lawsuits?
200

The Chief Justice will assign the writing of this to one of the judges on the "winning" side of a decision.


What is the majority opinion?

200

The 5th and 14th Amendments to the Constitution state that “no person may be deprived of life, liberty, or property without _________.”

What is due process of law?

300

In order for a case to be heard by the Supreme Court, it must meet this standard.

What is the Rule of Four?

300

This is the tradition of submitting a judicial candidate's name to the home state Senators for approval before the confirmation hearing.

What is senatorial courtesy?

300

These allow parties outside of the case, such as an interest group, to voice their opinions on a specific case.

What are amicus curiae briefs?

300

Congress's primary ability to "check" the Supreme Court is through this ability.

What is amending the Constitution?

300

This judicial philosophy limits the policy making role of the Court when making its decision.

What is judicial restraint/strict constructionism?

400

Parties who are not satisfied with the decision of a lower court must petition the U.S. Supreme Court to grant this in order hear their case. 

What is a writ of certiorari?

400

To become a Supreme Court Justice, you must pass through this three-step process.

What is nomination, hearing and confirmation?

400

This person represents the US government when it is a party to a case before the SCOTUS.

What is the Solicitor General?

400

This principle followed by the Court means to "let the decision stand".

What is stare decisis?

400

The case of Gitlow v. New York was the first time the Supreme Court applied this principle to one of its decisions.

What is selective incorporation?

500

The vast majority of cases heard by the Supreme Court come to the Court from here.

What are the Circuit Courts of Appeal?

500

The President is said to be doing this when appointing only federal judges who agree with their own political philosophy.

What is "court-packing"?

500

Cases dealing in some specific areas, such as bankruptcy or patents, will be heard in these types of courts, created by Congress under Article I of the Constitution for a specialized purpose.

What are legislative courts?

500

This is the biggest weakness of the federal courts as "policy-makers".

What is policy implementation is done by the other branches?

500

The philosophy of "judicial activism" was most illustrated during this Chief Justice's time on the Court, which saw the expansion of civil rights, civil liberties and federal power during his tenure.

Who is Earl Warren? (The Warren Court 1953-1969)