Chapter 7 vocab

Question 1

Dual court system

Answer 1

A court system made up of both federal and state courts.

Question 2

Jurisdiction

Answer 2

A court’s authority to hear and decide cases.

Question 3

Exclusive jurisdiction

Answer 3

Authority of only federal courts to hear and decide cases.

Question 4

Concurrent jurisdiction

Answer 4

Authority for both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases.

Question 5

Presumed

Answer 5

Assumed or supposed to be true.

Question 6

Original jurisdiction

Answer 6

The authority to hear cases for the first time.

Question 7

Appellate jurisdiction

Answer 7

The authority of a court to hear a case appealed from a lower court.

Question 8

Ruling

Answer 8

An official decision by a judge or a court that settles a cause and may also establish the meaning of a law.

Question 9

Opinion

Answer 9

A detailed explanation of the legal thinking behind a court’s decision in a case.

Question 10

Precedent

Answer 10

A ruling that is used as the basis for a judicial decision in a later similar case.

Question 11

Litigant

Answer 11

One Of the parties involved in a lawsuit.

Question 12

Tenure

Answer 12

The right to hold an office once a person is confirmed.

Question 13

Subpoena

Answer 13

An order that requires a person to appear in court.

Question 14

Consent

Answer 14

To express willingness or to agree; approval.

Question 15

Preliminary

Answer 15

Something that introduces or comes before something else.

Question 16

Judicial review

Answer 16

The power of the Supreme Court to say whether any federal, state, or local law or government action goes against the Constitution.

Question 17

Constitutional

Answer 17

In accordance with the Constitution.

Question 18

Nullify

Answer 18

To cancel legally.

Question 19

Challenge

Answer 19

To object to a decision or outcome.

Question 20

Writ of certiorari

Answer 20

An order a higher court issues to a lower court to obtain the records of the lower court in a particular case.

Question 21

Docket

Answer 21

A court’s calendar, showing the schedule of sases it is to hear.

Question 22

Caseload

Answer 22

A judges or courts workload of cases in a period of time.

Question 23

Brief

Answer 23

A written document explaining the position of one side of the other in a case.

Question 24

Stare decisis

Answer 24

The practice of using earlier judicial rulings as a basis for deciding cases.

Question 25

Concurring opinion

Answer 25

A statement written by a justice who votes with the majority, but for different reasons.

Question 26

Dissenting opinion

Answer 26

A statement written by a justice who disagrees with the majority opinion, presenting his or her opinion.

Question 27

Unanimous opinion

Answer 27

The Supreme Court rules on a case in which all justices agree on the ruling.

Question 28

Draft

Answer 28

To write a document in its first form: to make an outline or a rough version.