Structure of Court System
True or false: federal and state courts can handle both civil and criminal cases
True
What does the phrase "assistance of counsel" mean?
Having a lawyer defend you in court
Which Supreme Court case upheld students' right to free speech in public schools, saying "students do not shed their constitutional rights at the schoolhouse gate."
Tinker v. Des Moines
What was the holding (main point) of U.S. v. Nixon?
The president is not above the law.
The president cannot claim executive privilege to hold back evidence in a criminal case.
What are the 3 levels of federal courts?
U.S. District Courts (trial courts)
U.S. Courts of Appeal
U.S. Supreme Court
What vocab word means that the Supreme Court reverses or gets rid of an old decision (precedent) they do not agree with anymore?
Overrule or overturn
Which case said that police must tell people they have a right to remain silent when they are arrested?
Miranda v. Arizona
Which case said that racial segregation was unconstitutional, stating that "seperate but equal is inherently unequal"?
Brown v. Board of Education
What is the purpose of an appeal?
To decide whether the trial court judge made a mistake. (NOT to re-do the trial)
What is a precedent?
A previous court decision that becomes part of the law (through case law or common law)
Which (old) Supreme Court case allowed racial segregation with the phrase "separate but equal"?
Plessy v. Ferguson
Which Supreme Court case gave the Supreme Court the power to declare laws unconstitutional?
Marbury v. Madison
What is a jury's job in a trial?
Te reach a verdict (decision) of guilty/not guilty in a criminal case or liable/not liable in a civil case.
What does "jurisdiction" mean
A court's power to hear a case (you're in the correct court for that type of case)
Which (overturned) Supreme Court case denied enslaved African-Americans the right to sue in court, saying they were not citizens.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
What was the holding (main point) of In re Gault?
Juveniles have the same due process rights as adults.
Federal courts have jurisdiction over cases involving federal laws AND what other types of cases (not involving federal laws)
Disputes between different states
What is the difference between original jurisdiction and appellate jurisdiction?
Original jurisdiction is a court's power to hear a case at trial, and appellate jurisdiction is a court's power to hear a case on appeal.
Which Supreme Court case said that schools can limit students' free speech rights if the speech is inapropriate or disruptive or if it looks like the school is sponsoring/supporting the speech?
Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier
What was the holding (main point) of Gideon v. Wainwright?
If you are charged with a crime and you cannot afford a lawyer, then the court will provide a lawyer for you for free.