Vocabulary
Prior decisions made by the court
Precedents
Often known as superior court or circuit court, these courts try questions of law and fact with and without a jury at the state level
State Trial Courts
This case gave the court the power of judicial review
Marbury v. Madison
The right of an individual or organization to initiate a court case on the basis of having a substantial stake in the outcome
Standing
Briefs
A negotiated agreement in a criminal case in which the defendant agrees to plead guilty to reduce the severity of the punishment
Plea Bargain
The lowest of the federal courts; most cases begin here
Federal Trial Courts
Article VI of the Constitution, which states that laws passed by the national government are the supreme law of the land
Supremacy Clause
Criterion used to screen cases that no longer require resolution
Mootness
Stage in which attorneys appear to present their positions and answer questions
Oral Argument
Given to the Supreme Court for cases which involve states and governments
Original Jurisdiction
A court in which cases which have been decided are reviewed; these are organized by regions across the United States, 12 in all
Federal Appellate Courts
The Supreme Court can review these three types of action
State action, federal agency action, presidential power
A court process to seek judicial review of a lower court or government agency
Writ of Certiorari
A strictly private meeting during which the justices discuss the case
The Conference
The right of individuals against arbitrary action by national or state governments
Due Process of Law
The judiciary power of the United States; decisions are made by a panel of nine judges who vote on the outcome
The Supreme Court
This case established that segregated public schools violated students' rights to equal protection under the law
Brown v. Board of Education
The number of justices required to agree to reviewing a decision of a lower court
4 of 9 (Rule of Four)
The written explanation of the court's decision
Opinion Writing
A court order that an individual be brought into court and shown the cause for detention
Habeas Corpus
This court deals with questions of law arising from court-martial cases
U.S. Court of Military Appeals
This case, regarding an American Taliban fighter, put some constraints on presidential power, stating that citizens' rights must be upheld
Hamdi v. Rumsfeld
The top government lawyer in all cases before the Supreme Court in which the government is a party
Solicitor General
A decision written by a justice who holds the minority opinion in a case
Dissent