| Vocabulary Word |
 |
|
| Definition |
|
|
| jurisdiction |
the authority of a court to rule on certain cases |
| concurrent jurisdiction |
authority shared by both federal and state courts to rule on certain cases |
| original jurisdiction |
the authority of a trial court to be first to hear a case |
| appellate jurisdiction |
authority held by a court to hear a case that is appealed from lower court |
| writ of ceritoari |
an order from the Supreme Court to a lower court to send up the records on a case for review |
| indictment |
a formal charge by a grand jury |
| grand jury |
group that hears charges against a suspect and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to bring the person to trial |
| litigants |
a person engaged in a lawsuit |
| judicial circuit |
a region containing a United States appellate court |
| brief |
a written statement setting forth the legal arguments, relevant facts, and precedents supporting one side of a case |
| majority opinion |
the Court's decision expressing the views of the majority of justices |
| dissenting opinion |
the opinion expressed by a minority of justices in a Court case |
| judicial review |
the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws and actions of local, state, or national governments unconstitutional |
| case load |
the number of court cases handled by a judicial court in a given period of time |
| agenda |
list of cases the Supreme Court plans on hearing and decided upon during a session |
| federalism |
a system in which power is divided between national and state governments |
Spanish 3
