Court Structure and Jurisdiction

Question 1

Define: dual-court system

Answer 1

-federal and state courts exist side-by-side, but independent of one another

Question 2

All courts have ___ jurisdiction and __ jurisdiction.

Answer 2

• geographical jurisdiction

- subject-matter jurisdiction

Question 3

Define: limited jurisdiction

Answer 3

• limited authority

- small or preliminary issues

Question 4

Define: general jurisdiction

Answer 4

-broad authority over simple and complex cases both civil and criminal

Question 5

Define: appelate jurisdiction

Answer 5

-a court’s authority to hear appeal from decisions of lower courts

Question 6

Federal court is divided into 4 levels”

Answer 6

2-trial court levels (limited & general)

2-appelate levels (appeals & U.S. Supreme Court)

Question 7

Common features of state courts are (5)…

Answer 7

• trial courts (limited & general)
• appelate courts
• lowest level courts are overseen by justice of peace (may include municipal courts)
• every state has a highest appelate court
• states have specialized courts

Question 8

County courts are of ___ jurisdiction

Answer 8

-general jurisdiction

Question 9

A case moves from State to Federal when…

Answer 9

• person has lost their case/exhausted all appeals

- if substantial federal question has been raised

Question 10

Problem-solving courts, such as mental health court, emphasize…

Answer 10

1-mental health & other treatments
2-social services
3-ongoing monitoring

Question 11

In a civil case, the plantiff seeks…

Answer 11

-seeks remedy or relief from defendant