Granting Cert
Court Systems
Appointments
Checks and Balances
Major Vocabulary
100

The practice of 4 of the SCOTUS judges giving approval to grant cert.

What is the rule of 4?

100

This is how long SCOTUS Justices serve for.

What is Life?

100

They Nominate Judges

Who is the president?

100

Congress's ability to get rid of federal judges by majority vote in The House, and 2/3 vote by the Senate.

What is Impeachment?

100

The practice of the judiciary striking down laws and executive orders based on constitutionality

What is judicial review?

200

The proper terminology for granting Cert.

What is Writ of Certiorari?

200

This number of SCOTUS Justices.

What is 9?

200

This group confirms judges who are nominated by (REDACTED)

What is the Senate?
200

The president does this to overrule judicial decisions on federal crimes.

What is a Pardon?

200

The opinion  issued by one judge representing most of the judges explaining their decision and setting precedent.

What is the majority opinion?

300

Granting Cert is SCOTUS giving...

Something along the lines of-

What is approval to hear a case?

300

This type of opinion is used when a Justices disagrees with the Majority.

What is a Dissenting Opinion?
300

What is required for a judicial nominee to be confirmed

What is a majority vote by (REDACTED AS IT GIVES ANOTHER Q's ANSWER)

300

The president can issue this to delay implementation or enforcement of judicial decisions.

What is an executive order?

300
Majority opinions create this to establish guidelines for future cases.
What is Precedent?
400
  • Minor issues

  • Absurd claims

  • Lack of percolation

What are some reasons to NOT grant cert?

400

The type of opinion  where a Justice agrees with the Majority but with different reasoning.

What is Concurring Opinion?
400
This tests where nominees stand on controversial topics

What is a Litmus Test?

400

Congress can pass this to overturn a ruling.

What is an amendment?
400

The concept that justices and judges should honor past decisions, opinions, and precedents.

What is Stare Decisis?

500
  • Lower courts disagree

  • Aligns with certain Justice’s priorities

  • Correcting lower court’s legal errors

  • If the U.S. government is a party

What are some reasons FOR granting cert?

500

The ability to FIRST hear a case, found in state courts(district and circuit in maryland), federal district courts, and (rarely) the supreme court.

What is Original Jurisdiction?

500

This committee holds hearings and votes before the full version votes

What is the Senate Judiciary Committee?

500

The Senate has the choice to do this to select who, from the Presidents nominations, becomes a SCOTUS judge.

What is Confirm or Deny?

500

Things that can be filed by interested parties to help persuade justices one way or the other.

What are Amicus Curiae Briefs?