Judiciary

How and whether judicial decisions are translated into actual public policies affecting more than the immediate parties of the lawsuit.

An approach to constitutional interpretation that emphasizes the Framers' original intentions.

A philosophy of judicial decision making that argues judges should use their power broadly to further justice, especially in the areas of equality and personal liberty.

A philosophy of judicial decision making that argues courts should allow the decisions of other branches of government to stand, even when they offend a judge's own sense of principles.

“Friend of the court”; amici may file briefs or even appear to argue their interests orally before the court.

The fourth-ranking member of the Department of Justice; responsible for handling all appeals on behalf of the U.S. government to the Supreme Court.

At least four justices of the Supreme Court must vote to consider a case before it can be heard.

A request for the Court to order up the records from a lower court to review the case.

Process by which presidents generally defer selection of district court judges to the choice of senators of their own party who represent the state where the vacancy occurs.

In court rulings, a reliance on past decisions or precedents to formulate decisions in new cases.

A prior judicial decision that serves as a rule for settling subsequent cases of a similar nature.

A document containing the legal written arguments in a case filed with a court by a party prior to a hearing or trial.

Courts established by Congress for specialized purposes, such as the the Court of Military Appeals.

Federal courts specifically created by the U.S. Constitution or by Congress pursuant to its authority in Article III.

Codes of behavior related to business and contractual relationships between groups and individuals.

Codes of behavior related to the protection of property and individual safety.

The power vested in particular courts to review and/or revise the decision of a lower court.

The jurisdiction of courts that hear a case first, usually in a trial. These courts determine the facts of the case.

Authority vested in a particular court to hear and decide the issues in any particular case.

Court that generally reviews only findings of law made by lower courts.

Court of original jurisdiction where cases begin.

Case in which the Supreme Court first asserted the power of judicial review by finding that the congressional statute extending the Court's original jurisdiction was unconstitutional.

Established the basic three-tiered structure of the federal court system.

Power of the courts to review acts of other branches of government and the states.