1. Honors Civics and Citizenship
The Judicial Branch
Honors Civics and Citizenship

2. Vocabulary Jurisdiction Original Jurisdiction Appellate Jurisdiction
Authority to hear a case
Original Jurisdiction
Hearing a case first
Appellate Jurisdiction
Power vested in particular courts to review and/or revise a decision

3. Vocabulary Brief Precedent Rule of 4
Document containing the legal written arguments of a case filed before the trial begins
Precedent
Prior decision that serves as a rule for decided future similar cases
Rule of 4
4 Supreme Court Justices must vote to consider a case

4. Vocabulary Strict Constructionist Judicial Activism
Interpreting the Constitution as it was originally written and intended by the Framers
Judicial Activism
Judges should use their power broadly to further justice

5. Vocabulary Defendant Plaintiff The accused
The person who filed the suit

6. Judiciary Act of 1798
Legislation that created the 3-tiered court structure
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
District Court

7. 1 million fillings per year
Dual Court System
U.S. Supreme Court
Highest State Courts
75-80 cases per year
95,000 cases per year
U.S. Court of Appeals
State Intermediate Appellate Courts
60,000 cases per year
300,000 cases per year
U.S. District Courts
State Trial Courts
350,000 cases per year
1 million fillings per year

8. District Courts
Trials with juries
Where most cases begin

9. Appellate Courts Review cases after they have been appealed
Losing side appeals
They do not hold trials
3 judge bench
Options
Uphold the original ruling
Reverse the original ruling
Send the case back to be tried again

10. Appellate (Circuit) Courts

11. The Supreme Court Highest court in the U.S.A Original jurisdiction
2 or more states
diplomats from foreign countries
Hears cases that have been appealed

12. Marbury v. Madison & Judicial Review
Teacher Tip: anything written in italics is a court case
Marbury v. Madison established Judicial Review
The power of the Court to review acts done by the Legislative and Executive branches

13. Federal Court Jurisdiction
Constitution
Has a Constitutional right been violated?
AMENDMENTS!
Federal Law
Tax evasion
Bank robbery
Kidnapping

14. Federal Court Jurisdiction
Disputes between States
Ex. borders
Parties from Different States
Ex. Minnesota man cheats an Iowa man out of a deal in a contract
Must involve $50,000

15. Federal Court Jurisdiction
Admiralty and Maritime Laws
Crimes and accidents on the HIGH SEAS!
Ex. pirate gold in the ocean off the U.S. coast

16. Federal Court Jurisdiction
The Federal Government
U.S. government can take people/companies to court
People/companies can take U.S. government to court
Ex. government vehicle hits you in traffic

17. Federal Court Jurisdiction
Cases with Foreign Governments
U.S.A (gov’t, person, company) has an issue with another country
Cases with U.S. Diplomats
U.S. diplomat in Moscow is accused of breaking an American law.