Judicial Branch!

Foundations

100

This constitutional article establishes the judicial branch and creates the Supreme Court.

Article III

200

Alexander Hamilton argued for an independent judiciary in this Federalist Paper.

Federalist 78

300

This Supreme Court case established the principle of judicial review.

Marbury v. Madison

Practices

100

The power of courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.

Judicial review

200

The lowest level of federal courts where trials happen

District courts

300

This is the level of federal courts before the Supreme Court

Circuit court of appeals

Court in Action

100

This judicial philosophy argues that courts should defer to elected branches and existing precedent.

Judicial restraint

200

This judicial philosophy supports active court involvement to check the legislative and executive branches and overturn precedent

Judicial activism

300

This judicial philosophy supports interpretating the Constitution and laws by what they meant at the time of writing

Strict construction (or originalism)

Checks

100

A formal method by which Congress and the states can overturn a Supreme Court decision.

Constitutional amendment

200

Franklin D. Roosevelt’s controversial proposal to increase the number of Supreme Court justices was called this.

Court-packing

300

This congressional power allows lawmakers to limit the types of cases the Supreme Court can hear.

Jurisdiction stripping

Real Trivia

100

He's the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

John Roberts

200

The Latin term for keeping precedence in a court decision

Stare decisis

300

This court is often seen as "stepping stone" for judges to get to the Supreme Court and oversees a lot of disputes regarding Congressional laws

Circuit Court of Appeals for D.C.