Jurisdiction of the Court Study Guide

Lesson 1 1. The authority to hear certain cases is called this? Jurisdiction of the court. 2. When both the state court and the federal court have jurisdiction, it is called this? Concurrent System. 3. The celebrated decision in this case gave the Supreme Court judicial review. Marbury v. Madison. 4. That no state may deprive any person of life, liberty, or property is part of this clause? Due process clause. 5. Cases involving maritime law come under jurisdiction of which courts? Federal courts. 6. These courts derive their power from the Constitution and federal laws? Federal courts. 7. A trial court has what type of jurisdiction? Original jurisdiction. 8. People engaged in lawsuits are called this? Litigants. 9. These courts derive their power from the state constitutions and laws? State court. 10. A court of appeals has what type of jurisdiction? Appellate jurisdiction. 11. A state may not take a person’s life, liberty, or property without this? Due process of law. 12. The trial court in which a case is originally tried is said to have what type of jurisdiction? Original jurisdiction. 13. This case established the “separate but equal” doctrine? Plessy v. Ferguson. 14. In this case the Court established that the federal government was "supreme in its sphere of action?" McCulloch v. Maryland. 15. In this case the Court broadened the definition of interstate commerce in a way that increased the power of the federal government? Gibbons v. Ogden. Lesson 2 16. This court hears cases dealing with tariffs? Court of International Trade. 17. This court is sometimes referred to as the “G.I. Supreme Court?” U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces. 18. If the government has not paid a bill for goods or services, you may sue in this court? U.S. Court of Federal Claims. 19. Submitting a judicial candidate’s name to the home state before a senatorial hearing is called this? Senatorial courtesy. 20. This justice was the first African American to be appointed to the Supreme Court? Thurgood Marshall. 21. This is a formal accusation handed down by the grand jury? Indictment. 22. These are the workhorses of the federal judiciary system? District courts. 23. One of these appellate courts is in each of 12 regions across the United States? U.S. Court of Appeals. 24. These courts help Congress exercise its power according to Article I of the Constitution? Legislative Courts. 25. This is the trial jury? Petit jury. 26. If you are registered to vote or have a driver’s license, you may be called for this? Jury Duty. 27. These courts are similar to district courts in function, operation, and jurisdiction? Territorial Courts. 28. The Constitution provides that the president appoints all federal judges with the advice and consent of whom? Senate. 29. Presidents favor judges who belong to what? Their own political party. 30. Constitutional courts are established by Congress under this provision of the Constitution? Article III. Lesson 3 31. Duties of the Supreme Court justices have developed from Laws, through tradition. 32. An assistant to a Supreme Court judge is a Law clerk. 33. Justices reach the Supreme Court through Appointment by the president with Senate approval. 34. This president later served as chief justice. William Howard Taft. 35. This is the court of last resort in all questions of federal law. Supreme Court. 36. The written explanation of a Supreme Court decision is called the opinion. 37. Traveling to hold court in assigned regions is called Riding the circuit. 38. Article III, Section 2, of the Constitution addresses Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction. 39. The Supreme Court is composed of nine justices including eight associate justices and Chief justice. 40. What body evaluates the professional qualifications of candidates for all Article III judicial positions? The American Bar Association (ABA). 41. The vast majority of cases heard by the Supreme Court reach the Court as appeals from lower courts. 42. This is an order from the Court to send up the records on a case for review. Writ of certiorari. 43. This is a written statement setting forth the legal arguments supporting one side of a case. Brief. 44. One or more justices who agree with the majority’s conclusions about a case, but do so for different reasons, write this type of opinion? Concurring opinion. 45. The Fourteenth Amendment was important to Clarence Gideon because it gave him this? Court appointed lawyer. 46. On Wednesdays and Fridays, Supreme Court justices do this? Meet in secret conferences to decide cases. 47. A friend of the court is referred to as this? Amicus curiae. 48. This is an unsigned statement of the Court’s decision? Per curiam opinion. 49. This is the opinion of justices on the losing side of the case? Dissenting opinion. 50. This expresses the views of the majority of the justices on a case? Majority opinion. Lesson 4 51. About one-fourth of the Supreme Court’s decisions concern appeals from whom? Prisoners. 52. This judicial review of state laws and actions changed law enforcement across the nation? Miranda v. Arizona. 53. The Lau v. Nichols case is an example of the Court doing this? Require schools to provide special instruction in English to immigrant students. 54. This comprises the largest block of the Court’s cases? Civil liberties. 55. Under the principle of stare decisis, once the Court rules on a case, its decision becomes this? Precedent. 56. The Supreme Court will hear only cases in which its decision will do this? Make a difference. 57. This is a model, on which to base other decisions in similar cases? Precedent. 58. This is a ruling on a law or action that has not been challenged? Advisory opinion. 59. This Court decision limited the president’s power to impound funds? Train v. City of New York. 60. This is the president's power to refuse to spend money that Congress has appropriated? Impound. 61. This person assigns the writing of opinions to the justices? Chief justice. 62. The president’s most important influence over the Supreme Court is this power? Appoint justices. 63. The number of justices on the Court is set by this? Congress. 64. The Court may reverse its earlier decision because of this? Changes in American society. 65. This president left a strong legacy by appointing four justices to the Supreme Court? Richard Nixon. 66. A coalition of justices is referred to as this? Voting blocs. 67. A swing vote is another term for this? Deciding vote. 68. The power to confirm appointments to the Supreme Court resides with whom? Senate. 69. This is the foundation for deciding cases? Law. 70. This is the Senate’s control over the Supreme Court? Confirmation.