Unit 3-Judicial Branch and Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Flashcards
(69 cards)
What is a concurring opinion?
An opinion that agrees with the majority’s conclusion but for different reasons.
What is a dissenting opinion?
An opinion that disagrees with the majority’s decision.
What does ‘good behavior’ refer to in a judicial context?
The standard for judges to maintain their positions.
What is judicial activism?
The practice of judges making rulings based on personal or political considerations.
What is judicial restraint?
The practice of judges limiting their own power by avoiding the overturning of laws.
What is judicial review?
The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.
What is the difference between original and appellate jurisdiction?
Original jurisdiction refers to the authority to hear a case for the first time, while appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority to review a lower court’s decision.
What is a litigant?
A person involved in a lawsuit.
What is a litmus test?
A test of ideological purity used to determine a candidate’s suitability for a position.
What is a majority opinion?
The official statement of the court that reflects the views of the majority of justices.
What is precedent?
A legal decision that serves as an example or rule for future cases.
What is stare decisis?
The legal principle of determining points in litigation according to precedent.
What is a writ of certiorari?
An order by a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
What is affirmative action?
Policies that take factors such as race or gender into account to benefit an underrepresented group.
What is the Bill of Rights?
The first ten amendments to the United States Constitution, guaranteeing individual rights.
What is majority-minority districting?
The practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to create districts where the majority of voters are from a minority group.
What are civil liberties?
Individual rights protected by law from unjust governmental or other interference.
What is the Miranda rule/warnings?
The requirement that individuals taken into police custody must be informed of their rights.
What are civil rights?
The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.
What is the National Organization for Women (NOW)?
An American feminist organization founded in 1966 to advocate for women’s rights.
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
A landmark piece of legislation that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.
What is obscenity?
Material that is considered offensive or indecent, often subject to legal restrictions.
What was the Civil Rights movement?
A struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s to end racial discrimination.