Key Terms
Landmark Cases
The Supreme Court Justices
Judicial Review
Traditions and Procedures
100
Periods during which the Supreme Court hears cases.
What are sittings?
100
Held that the Supreme Court can review and reverse state court decisions and can review pending state cases in 1816.
What is Martin v. Hunter's Lessee?
100
The only one Supreme Court justice who was impeached in 1804.
Who was Samuel Chase?
100
The power of a court to analyze decisions and other government entities and lower courts.
What is judicial review?
100
Begins on the first Monday in October and continues until June or July.
When does a term always begin?
200
A written statement by the court explaining its decision in a given case, usually including the legal issues or points of law involved, a statement of facts, and any precedents on which the decision is based.
What is an opinion?
200
In 1868, Congress reserved the right to limit the jurisdiction of federal courts, including the Supreme Court.
What was Ex parte McCardle?
200
A lifetime appointment so that a justice may not be unduly influenced.
What is a Supreme Court appointment?
200
Allows the courts to pass upon the constitutionality of an action taken by the legislative and executive branches of the government.
What is the doctrine of judicial review?
200
10am.
What time do the justices enter the courtroom?
300
Periods during which the Supreme Court does not hear cases but considers administrative matters and writes opinions.
What are recesses?
300
In 1973, a woman's constitutional right to an abortion was established under the Fourteenth Amendment.
What was Roe v. Wade?
300
Directs that the president of the United States shall nominate a judge for appointment to the Supreme Court, and directs that federal judges and other government officials could be removed from their offices "on impeachment for and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
What is Article 2?
300
He said "We are under a Constitution, but the Constitution is what the judges say it is."
What did Justice Charles Evans Hughes say in his 1907 speech in New York?
300
As is customary in American courts, Supreme Court justices are seated on the bench according to this principle.
What is seniority?
400
Decisions that are pro-person accused or convicted of a crime, pro-civil liberties or civil rights claimants, pro-indigents, pro-Native Americans, and antigovernment.
What is liberal?
400
In 1871, decided Congress retains the power under Article 3 to determine which federal courts may hear certain types of cases.
What was United States v. Klein?
400
The House of Representatives brings forth articles of impeachment and the Senate holds the trial.
What is the process of impeachment?
400
Appointed justice of the peace for the District of Columbia in 1801 by President John Adams.
Who is William Marbury?
400
Justices wear this traditional garment while in court, a practice dating back to at least 1800.
What are black robes?
500
Decisions that favor the government's interest in prosecuting and punishing offenders over recognition or expansion rights for individuals.
What is conservative?
500
In 2009, ruled that the fact of non-review 'imports no expression of opinion upon the merits of the case,' and no one should assign 'any precedential value' to the fact that a particular ruling of a lower court was not reviewed.
What was Virginia v. Harris?
500
They shall hold their Offices during good Behavior, and shall, at stated times, receive for their Services, a Compensation, which shall not be diminished during their Continuance in Office.
What must Judges do?
500
The question was "Who makes the law--those elected by the people or those sitting on the Supreme Court bench?"
What question raised conflict between judicial review and political democracy?
500
The second senior associate justice sits immediately to this side of the Chief Justice.
What is the Chief Justice's left?