Government - Ch. 13 U.S. Federal Court System Flashcards

Front

SUPREME COURT

Back

The top court of the US federal court system. This body has the final say in cases. It can only be overridden by itself or a Constitutional amendment.

Front

9

Back

The number of justices on the Supreme Court. Congress has set this number, which is an odd number to minimize tie decisions.

Front

LIFETIME

Back

The term length federal judges are granted to keep them isolated from outside pressures.

Front

FEDERAL JUDGE

Back

The person who hears and presides over cases involving federal laws.

Front

FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM

Back

The hierarchical network of district and appeal courts that hear federal cases. The Supreme Court is at the top.

Front

US SUPREME COURT BUILDING

Back

The courthouse in Washington, DC in which the Supreme Court hears its cases.

Front

FEDERAL COURT HOUSES

Back

The buildings around the US that house district and circuit courtrooms.

Front

DISTRICT COURT

Back

The courtrooms that first hear federal cases. They have juries and a judge presiding over them.

Front

CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS

Back

The courtrooms that hear federal cases that have been appealed. They have no juries, just 3-judge panels.

Front

APPELLATE COURT

Back

Another name for an appeals court. They hear cases in which one party feels the law wasn’t properly applied in the original ruling.