click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Judical Branch
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| 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 groups or individuals, not against the state. |
| Common law | Laws that develop from judges decisions |
| Precedent | An earlier court decision that guides judges decisions in later cases |
| Constitutional law | Laws based on the US constitution and supreme court decisions. |
| appeal | The right of a convicted person to ask for a higher court to review their case. |
| Jurisdiction | The area of authority to hear a court case and enforce a law |
| district courts | Lower federal courts that have the original jurisdiction in most cases involving federal law |
| Courts of appeals | federal courts that review decisions appealed from district courts. |
| Justices | Tittle given to judges of the supreme court. |
| Judical 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 US supreme court explaining it's reasoning behind a decision. |
| Concurring opinion | A statement written by an 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. |