Foundation for Powers :)
The article of the U.S. Constitution that established the Supreme Court and gives Congress the power to establish the lower courts.
Article III
Courts that hear reviews or appeals of decisions from the lower courts.
Appellate Jurisdiction
Four of the nine justices must agree to hear the case.
Rule of Four
The Court ruled that segregation of whites and blacks in school was indeed unconstitutional.
Brown v. Board of Education
A majority of the justices agree on the decision and its reasons.
Majority Opinion
Hamilton addressed the scope of power of the judicial branch. This is a Federalist paper in case you're a bit slow :)
Federalist #78
Lower courts have the authority to hear cases for the first time; where trials are conducted, evidence is presented, and juries determine the outcome of the case.
Original Jurisdiction
Interested parties may also be invited to submit these briefs to support or reject an argument of the case.
Amicus Curiae Brief
The Court should play a lively role in determining national policies; advocates applying the Constitution to social and political questions, especially where constitutional rights have been violated or unacceptable conditions exist.
Judicial Activism
A justice or justices who disagree with the majority opinion.
Dissenting Opinion
Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review, which gave the courts the ability to declare acts of the legislature and the executive unconstitutional. I wonder what this is?
Marbury v. Madison
The federal courts created by Congress under Article III of the Constitution and the Supreme Court.
Constitutional Courts
Bonus Question: Who is the current Chief Justice of SCOTUS?
Chief Justice John Roberts
A case that upheld state laws requiring segregated transportation on trains.
Plessy v. Ferguson
Standards or guides to be followed in deciding similar cases in the future.
Precedent
Random Question! What president was denied executive privilege with the Watergate scandal?
Richard Nixon
Hears cases arising from the powers given to Congress under Article I.
Legislative Courts
A detailed statement of the facts of the case supporting a particular position by presenting arguments based on relevant facts and citations from previous cases.
Brief
The Court should avoid taking the initiatives on social and political questions, operating strictly within the limits of the Constitution and upholding acts of Congress unless the acts clearly violate specific provisions of the Constitution.
Judicial Restraint
A justice who agrees with the majority opinion but not with the reasoning behind the decision.
Concurring Opinion
Random Question! Name 4 checks on the judicial branch from the legislative branch.
1. Approve/Reject Appointments
2. Write new legislation to clarify a law
3. Propose Amendments
4. Salary
5. Impeachment
6. Size
Allows certain types of cases to be tried in either the federal or state courts.
Concurrent Jurisdiction
An order by SCOTUS directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review.
Writ of Certiorari
Declared that slaves were not protected by the Constitution and could never become citizens.
Dred Scott v. Sandford
The doctrine or policy of following rules or principles laid down in previous judicial decisions.
Stare Decisis