Chapter 7 Vocab

Question 1

appellate jurisdiction

Answer 1

the authority of a court to review decisions of inferior (lower) courts

Question 2

writ of certiorari

Answer 2

an order by the Court directing a lower court to send up the record in a given case for review

Question 3

civil case

Answer 3

a case involving a non criminal matter such as a contract dispute or a claim of patent

Question 4

concurrent jurisdiction

Answer 4

power shared by federal and State courts to hear certain cases

Question 5

plaintiff

Answer 5

in civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another (the defendant) in court

Question 6

defendant

Answer 6

in a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff; in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime

Question 7

dissenting opinion

Answer 7

an opinion written by a justice who does not agree with the Court’s decision, explaining the reasons why not

Question 8

certificate

Answer 8

the result of a process in which a lower court asks the Court to certify the answer to a specific question, such as a procedure or rule of law

Question 9

concurring opinion

Answer 9

an opinion which is basically in agreement with the decision that the Court has made, but which bases that opinion on different reasons

Question 10

inferior courts

Answer 10

the lower federal courts, under the Supreme Court