The American Legal System

Question 1

Appellant

Answer 1

A person who brings an appeal

Also known as a petitioner

Question 2

Appellee

Answer 2

A person against whom an appeal is brought

Also known as a respondent

Question 3

Bill

Answer 3

A proposed law to be brought before a legislative body

Has various other legal definitions, usually pertaining to certain types of legal documents

Question 4

Case Law

Answer 4

Law created by the court through a case opinion

Question 5

Checks and Balances

Answer 5

A system of our government, designed by its Framers, whereby each branch of the government may “check” or be checked by the other two, thus “balancing” the power of government

Question 6

Common Law

Answer 6

Law incorporated from custom and usage

Question 7

Congress

Answer 7

The United States legislative body, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives

Question 8

Constitutionality

Answer 8

The legality of a particular law or act determined insofar as it is consistent with the United States Constitution

Question 9

Court of Appeals

Answer 9

A court where appeals are brought

On the federal level, courts where district court decisions are typically appealed

Question 10

Defendant

Answer 10

A person against whom a lawsuit is brought

Question 11

District Court

Answer 11

The lowest level federal court

Question 12

Executive Branch

Answer 12

The branch of government that carries out the law

Question 13

Federal Government

Answer 13

The tier of government that is centered in Washington, D.C., and is comprised of the 50 states. Its laws apply uniformly throughout the entire nation

Question 14

Governor

Answer 14

The head of each state’s executive branch of government

Question 15

House of Representatives

Answer 15

The legislative body that, along with the Senate, comprises the United States Congress

Question 16

Impeachment

Answer 16

An official criminal proceeding against an officer of the United States, typically for misconduct while in office

Question 17

Judicial Branch

Answer 17

The branch of government that interprets the law

Question 18

Jurisdiction

Answer 18

The legal power of a court to adjudicate a case

Question 19

Legislative Branch

Answer 19

The branch of government that creates the law

Question 20

Litigation

Answer 20

The process of a case going to trial in court

Question 21

Loose Constructionist

Answer 21

A judge who loosely interprets the United States Constitution to justify changing a particular law

Question 22

Petitioner

Answer 22

A person who brings an appeal

Also known as an appellant

Question 23

Plaintiff

Answer 23

A person who brings a lawsuit

Question 24

President of the United States

Answer 24

The United States chief executive

Leader of the federal executive branch of government

Question 25

Respondent

Answer 25

A person against whom an appeal is brought Also known as an appellee

Question 26

Statute

Answer 26

A law created by a legislative body

Question 27

Senate

Answer 27

The legislative body that, along with the House of Representatives, comprises the United States Congress

Question 28

State Government

Answer 28

The tier of government that presides over an individual state

Question 29

State Legislature

Answer 29

Laws passed by state level government

Question 30

Strict Constructionist

Answer 30

A judge who strictly interprets the wording of the Constitution and is not likely to alter the law to fit contemporary standards

Question 31

Subject Matter

Answer 31

A factor in deciding jurisdiction based on the type of legal issue at hand

Question 32

Supremacy Clause

Answer 32

The U.S. Constitution's proclamation of its superiority over any state law

Question 33

Trial

Answer 33

The first (and, often, only) judicial phase of a lawsuit

Question 34

United States Constitution

Answer 34

The document on which the United States government was based and continues to be the supreme law of the United States

Question 35

United States Supreme Court

Answer 35

The highest court of the United States

Question 36

Appeal

Answer 36

The act of requesting that a higher court review the decision of a lower court