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Judicial Branch.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Crime: | Any act that breaks the law and for which a punishment has been established. |
| Criminal law: | Part of the legal system that deals with crimes, or actions that are harmful or dangerous to society. |
| Civil law: | Resolving disagreements between individuals or groups, not against the state. |
| Common law: | Law that develops from judges' decisions. |
| Precedent: | An earlier court decision that guides judges' decisions in later cases. |
| Constitutional law: | Law based on the U.S. Constitution and supreme court decisions. |
| Appeal: | The right of a convicted person to ask a higher court to review their case. |
| Jurisdiction: | The area of authority to hear a court case and enforce the law. |
| District courts: | Lower federal courts that have original jurisdiction in most cases involving federal law. |
| Courts of appeals: | Federal courts that review decisions appealed from district courts. |
| Justices: | Title given to judges of the Supreme court. |
| Judicial review: | The power of the Supreme Court; it determines if a law passed by Congress or presidential action goes against the Constitution. |
| Opinion: | A written statement by the U.S. Supreme Court explaining it's reasoning behind a decision. |
| Concurring Opinion: | A statement written by a Supreme Court Justice who agrees with the majority's decision but for different reasons. |
| Dissenting Opinion: | A statement written by a Supreme Court justice who disagrees with the majority's decision. |