Chapter 9- The Federal Judiciary | POLS 1101 - American Government, Quizzes of Local Government Studies

Download Chapter 9- The Federal Judiciary | POLS 1101 - American Government and more Quizzes Local Government Studies in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 Activism DEFINITION 1 When judges shape judicial doctrine to conform with their view of the Constitution in a changing society. TERM 2 Amicus curiae DEFINITION 2 "Friend of the court." A brief filed in a lawsuit by an individual or group that is not party to the lawsuit but that has an interest in the outcome. TERM 3 Attorney general DEFINITION 3 The head of the Justice Department. As the nations chief legal officer, they represent the federal governments interests in law courts throughout the nation. The attorney general is also the chief law enforcement officer. TERM 4 Concurring opinion DEFINITION 4 A written opinion by a Supreme Court justice who agrees with the decision of the Court but disagrees with the rationale for reaching that decision. TERM 5 Constitutional courts DEFINITION 5 Category of federal courts vested with the general judicial authority outlined in Article III of the Constitution. The most important are the Supreme Court, the courts of appeals, and the ninety-four district courts. Their authority derives from that of the Supreme Court, and they are supposed to conform to its decisions. TERM 6 Court of appeals DEFINITION 6 The second tier of courts in the federal judicial system (between the Supreme Court and the district courts). One serves each of eleven regions, or circuits, plus one for the District of Columbia. TERM 7 Court-packing plan DEFINITION 7 An attempt by President Franklin Roosevelt, in 1937, to remodel the federal judiciary. Its purpose ostensibly was to alleviate the overcrowding of federal court dockets by allowing the president to appoint an additional Supreme Court justice for every sitting justice over the age of seventy. The legislation passed the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate by a single vote. If it had passed, Roosevelt could have added six new justices to the high bench, thereby installing a new Court majority sympathetic to his New Deal programs. TERM 8 Dissenting opinion DEFINITION 8 The written opinion of one or more Supreme Court justices who disagree with the ruling of the Courts majority. The opinion outlines the rationale for their disagreement. TERM 9 District courts DEFINITION 9 The trial courts of original jurisdiction in the federal judicial system. The ninety-four are the third tier of the federal judicial system, below the Supreme Court and the courts of appeals. TERM 10 Judicial doctrine DEFINITION 10 The practice of prescribing in a decision a set of rules that are to guide future decisions on similar cases. Used by the Supreme Court to guide the lower courts in making decisions.