Judicial Branch

What is stare decisis mean?

"Let the decision stand" Use precedent to follow prior rulings

How many circuit courts are there and what is another name for circuit courts?

12 (13 if you count specialty courts)

Define: precedent, brief, remand, docket

A precedent is an earlier example used to help make a decision. A brief is a description of your side's argument to the court. A remand is sending the case back to the lower court to be heard again. A docket is the calender of all the court cases heard by a court.

What is a precedent?

An earlier example used to help make a decision.

What article lists the powers of the courts?

Article III

How many judges hear the case in district court, appeals court, and Supreme Court?

District court is 1 judge and a jury. Appeals court is a panel of 3 judges. Supreme Court is 9 justices.

What is the role of district courts and appeals courts?

District courts are trial courts that hear a case with a judge and jury and decide on a verdict. Appeals courts are courts that deal with questions of law from the district courts.

Which John Marshall court case about national supremacy dealt with the implied powers of commerce?

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

What branch of government is the court system in?

Judicial branch

What is the difference between a majority opinion, concurring opinion, unanimous, and dissenting opinion?

Majority opinion is the winning side's description about why they made the decision they did. Concurring opinion is the explanation by a judge voting with majority, but explaining their own reasoning. A unanimous opinion is a 9-0 decision by the court. A dissenting opinion is one written by a judge/judges who disagrees with the winning side.

What court case established judicial review?

Marbury v. Madison

Which John Marshall court case about national supremacy dealt with the implied powers of the national bank?

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)

How many judges are on the Supreme Court?

Nine (1 chief justice and 8 chief associates)

Describe the difference between original, exclusive, appellate, and concurrent jurisdiction

Original jurisdiction means the power to hear a case first, while appellate means to hear the case on appeal from a lower court. Exclusive jurisdiction means that only the federal government can hear the case, while concurrent means it can be heard in federal or state court.

What is jurisdiction?

Power to hear/decide a case

Who appoints judges to the court and who approves them?

President appoints them and the Senate approves them

What is the difference between remand and overturn.

Remand means the higher court is sending the case back the lower court to be heard again. Overturn means that the higher court reverses the ruling from the lower court.

What is judicial review?

The power to look over the actions of the President and Congress and decide if their actions are constitutional

In what courts would you find juries?

Trial courts = district court

What do we call the calender for the court?

docket