POLS 201 EXAM 2: Chapter 13- Courts

The law in which Congress laid out the organization of the federal judiciary. The law refined and clarified federal court jurisdiction and set the orginal number of justices at six. It also created the Office of the Attorney General and established the lower federal courts.

Lower-level trial courts of the federal judicial system that handle most US federal cases.

The authority of a court to hear appeals from lower courts and change or uphold the decision.

The supreme court's power to strike down a law or executive branch action that it finds unconstitutional.

Orders issued by a higher court to a lower court, government official, or government agency to perform acts performed by law.

The process of determining whether a piece of legislation or government action is supported by the Constitution.

The various methods and tests used by the courts for determining the meaning of a law and applying it to specific situations. Congress may overturn the courts' interpretation by writing a new law; thus it also engages in statutory interpretation.

The person or party who brings a case to court.

The person or party against whom a case is brought.

The final decision in a court case.

A case brought by a group of individuals on behalf of themselves and other in the general public who are in similar circumstances.

Law based on the precedent of previous court rulings rather than on legislation. It is used in all federal courts and forty nine of the fifty state courts.

A legal norm established in court cases that is then applied to future cases dealing with the same legislation.

Legitimate justification for bringing a civil case to court.

The sphere of a court's legal authority to hear and decide cases.