Amending the U.S. Constitution & Lawmaking process
How can an amendment be proposed to the U.S Constitution?
-proposed by Congress by a 2/3 vote in both houses
-proposed at a national convention called by congress when requested by 2/3 (34) of the state legislatures
Highest court in the U.S & Highest court in FL
(Name # of justices)
U.S: Supreme Court, 9 Justices
FL: Florida Supreme Court, 7 justices
Civil VS Criminal law (Types of law)
-Civil: Disputes between people and organizations
-Criminal: relates to crime, defines and punishes crimes
Bill of Rights: Amendments 1 & 2
Amendment 1: Freedoms of speech, religion, press, assembly, petition
Amendment 2: Right to Bear Arms
Grand VS Petite Juries
Grand Juries determine probable cause for criminal charges and issue indictments
Petite Juries determine verdicts of criminal and civil trials
How can an amendment be ratified in the U.S Constitution?
-Ratified by the State legislatures of 3/4 (38) of the states
-Ratified by conventions held in 3/4 (38) of the states
Appellate Courts
-hear cases on "appeal" to review trial court decisions for errors
-13 U.S appellate courts
Juvenile Law & Military Law (types of law)
Juvenile- Deals with people who are under the age of 18, considered too young to be fully responsible for crimes
Military- Laws governing the armed forces
Bill of Rights: Amendments 3 & 4
Amendment 3: No quartering of soldiers
Amendment 4: No unreasonable searches or seizures
Voir Dire
-process of determining whether a juror can serve fairly and impartially in a given case by asking the juror various questions
How can a president's veto be overridden?
By congress with a 2/3 majority in favor of the bill
Trial courts
-typically 1st to hear cases, establish facts, and apply the law
-94 in US
Sources of law: Constitutional & Natural law
-Natural law: system of right or justice held to be common to all humans and derived from nature rather than from the rules of society
-Constitutional law: How U.S Constitution is interpreted & applied
Bill of Rights: Amendments 5 & 6
Amendment 5: Right to Due Process, no Self-Incrimination, no Double Jeopardy, Eminent Domain
Amendment 6: Right to fair, speedy, public trial and counsel
What do juries do?
They listen to case facts, review evidence, and deliberate
A ________ committee. Made up of members of both chambers. Meets to resolve any differences between the House & Senate versions of the bill
Conference
FL Circuit Courts
-felonies
-civil cases over 30k
-lowest appellate court in FL
Sources of law: Statutory Law
Laws passed by a legislative body (Congress or state legislature)
Bill of Rights: Amendments 7 & 8
Amendment 7: Right to trial by jury in civil cases
Amendment 8: No cruel or unusual punishment or excessive bail
To protect the right to due process and to uphold rule of law
A bill is introduced by a member of the House/Senate and assigned to a ________ for review. (Most bills die here)
committee
FL county courts
-civil cases under 30k, misdemeanors, traffic offenses, disputes between people
Sources of law: Case & Common Law
-a body of unwritten laws based on legal precedents established by the courts
Bill of Rights: Amendments 9 & 10
Amendment 9: Rights retained by the people
Amendment 10: Powers Reserved for the States
Jury Duty is a Civic __________
Obligation