The State Court System: Vocab

Question 1

Municipal Court

Answer 1

A court organized within a city, village, or township, with jurisdiction over offenses under local ordinances and certain petty offenses.

Question 2

Primary

Answer 2

A selective mechanism by which members of a political party express their preference in the selection of the party’s candidates for public office. For example, both the Democratic and Republican parties have primaries for President.

Question 3

Retention Election

Answer 3

A periodic process held at the same time as a general election, in which voters decide whether a state judge will remain in office.

Question 4

Merit Selection

Answer 4

A process in which a non-partisan judicial nominating committee generates a list of potential judges from which the appointing authority (usually the governor of the state) selects whom to appoint.