Introduction
What is the name of the person who represents a state or country in legal matters?
Attorney General
What article of the Constitution defines the Special Courts?
Article I
What are the two types of cases that fall into district courts (trial courts) jurisdiction?
Criminal cases & civil cases
Approximately, what percentage of cases are heard by the Supreme Court each year?
1%
80 cases compared to the 8,000 submitted
This article of the Constitution defines the Judicial Branch and set up the Supreme Court.
Article III
District Courts
What courts have jurisdiction in over 80% of federal cases?
District Courts
Describe the process of selecting federal judges.
Nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
What are they types of jurisdiction the Supreme Court has?
Original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction
What power does Congress have over the Judicial Branch?
The power to create all lower (inferior) courts
How many U.S. Court of Appeals are there?
13 total
Why were military commissions created?
2001 by President Bush after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. It was used to try "unlawful enemy combatants" at Guatanmo Bay in Cuba
What are the requirements for a federal judge/Supreme Court Justice?
There are no requirements.
These are spoken to the Supreme Court Justices in 30 minutes by an attorney to a party in a case. They discuss the legal reasons as to why their party should prevail.
Oral Arguments
Judicial Review
Courts for our nations territories - Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Hearing federal cases that arise in those territories
This court was created to issue secret search warrants and conduct covert surveillance of persons suspected to be a spy or terrorist.
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court
What is the difference between judicial restraint and judicial activism?
Judicial restraint = strict interpretation of the constitution
Judicial activism = loose interpretation of the constitution based on changes of society
What is the difference between majority opinion and concurrent opinion?
Majority opinion is the "opinion of the court" and concurrent opinion agrees with the majority but states different reasons for agreeing
What type of court system is used in the United States? Explain what it is.
A dual court system is composed of Federal Courts and State courts. State courts deal with state laws and the state constitution. Federal Courts deal with federal laws and the U.S. constitution
What does the 12 circuit court of appeals have jurisdiction over?
D.C. Circuit
Name the four types of Jurisdiction.
Original, appellate, exclusive, and concurrent
Name 3 of the 4 factors the president considers when nominating a federal judge.
1. Legal expertise
2. Party affiliation
3. Judicial Philosophy
4. Senate Approval
Describe the path to the Supreme Court through the constitutional courts.
Where do you start, where do you go, where do you end?
District Court (trial) ----> Court of Appeals ----> Supreme Court