Judicial Branch Study Guide – Chapter 18
national judiciary
inferior courts
constitutional courts
special courts
US Supreme Court
jurisdiction
exclusive jurisdiction
concurrent jurisdiction
plaintiff
defendant
original jurisdiction
appellate jurisdiction
appointment of judges
court officers
federal judicial districts
criminal case
civil case
docket
courts of appeals
judicial review
Marbury v. Madison
John Marshall
writ of certiorari
certificate
oral arguments
briefs
court in conference
majority opinion
precedents
concurring opinion
dissenting opinion
Court of Federal Claims
redress
territorial courts
DC courts
Court of Appeals for the
Armed Forces
courts-martial
civilian tribunal
military commissions
Court of Appeals for
Veterans Claims
US Tax Court
Questions to ponder:
Section One
Why did the Framers see a need for a national judiciary?
Which courts here most of the cases, state or federal, and why?
What is the process by which most federal judges are nominated and approved?
Section Two
In the late 1800s, what did Congress do to ease the burden of SCOTUS?
Where do most of the cases that reach the federal courts of appeals come from?
How does the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit differ from other federal courts of
appeals?
Section Three
What kind of cases does SCOTUS usually accept?
What is the ‘rule of four’?
If SCOTUS decides not to hear a case, what then becomes the final result (decision) in that case?
How are oral arguments presented to SCOTUS?
Section Four
What were the special courts created?
Under what circumstances can an American citizen sue the US?
What kind of claims are head by the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims?