Judicial Branch Basics
What is the main purpose of the judicial branch?
Interpret laws
This is the number of justices on the Supreme Court.
9
This case banned school-sponsored prayer, even if participation was voluntary.
Engel v Vitale
This case established that states must provide an attorney in felony cases.
What is Gideon v. Wainwright?
This case protected students wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War.
Tinker v Des Moines
The power of courts to strike down laws as unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
What are the two steps of how a Judge gets their job?
President nominates a new person and the Senate confirms the person.
This case recognized a constitutional right to privacy in marital contraception.
What is Griswold v. Connecticut?
This case prohibits police from using evidence obtained in an illegal search.
What is Mapp v. Ohio?
This case ruled that students cannot be forced to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
What is West Virginia v. Barnette?
This term means the Judicial Branch should be free from political pressure or influence.
What is judicial independence?
How long do Judges serve in their job?
For life
This case legalized abortion nationally under the right to privacy.
What is Roe v. Wade?
This case requires police to inform suspects of their rights before interrogation.
What is Miranda v. Arizona?
This case ruled that school expression can only be restricted if it causes substantial disruption.
What is Tinker v. Des Moines?
This 1803 case established the supremacy of the Supreme Court in interpreting the Constitution.
What is Marbury v. Madison?
What are the Constitutional requirements to be a Supreme Court judge?
There are none.
This case ruled that burning the American flag is a protected form of symbolic speech.
Texas v Johnson
This case halted the death penalty due to inconsistent and arbitrary sentencing.
What is Furman v. Georgia?
This type of speech includes actions like armbands or flag burning.
What is symbolic speech?
This term means that the Supreme Court is the final word on the meaning of laws and the Constitution.
Judicial supremacy
This federal court level hears cases first and uses trials with witnesses and juries. They are the lowest level and first step in the court process.
District Court
This case incorporated the First Amendment free speech clause to the states.
Gitlow v New York
Which amendment makes the Bill of Rights also apply to the States?
14th Amendment
This case protected offensive political expression even when many found it disrespectful.
What is Texas v. Johnson?