How the Judicial Branch Shapes American Law

Multiple Choice

The Judicial Branch

• makes laws

• interprets laws

• enforces laws

Multiple Select

The Judicial Branch makes sure that laws-

• follow the Constitution

• protects individual rights

• creates and implements laws

• settles legal disputes

Draw

Draw a stick figure to represent each member of the supreme court.

Open Ended

What is the function of the court of appeals?

Multiple Choice

What can a person do if they disagree with a district court decision?

• Seek a public opinion on the case to have it reversed.

• declare a miss trial and go to a different court.

• File an appeal to a higher court.
• Request a retrial in the same court.

Draw

Draw an image to represent an example of a special federal court.

Match

Match the examples of Judicial Branch functions to their explanations.

• Protecting Rights

• Interpreting Laws

• Applying the Law to Facts

• Resolving Disputes

• Checking Other Branches

protect freedom of speech

what a law means and how it applies

determine the facts to reach a decision

settle disputes between states

judicial review

• protect freedom of speech

• what a law means and how it applies

• determine the facts to reach a decision

• settle disputes between states

• judicial review

Multiple Choice

Subject-Matter Jurisdiction

• the power to enforce laws.

• authority of a court to hear cases of a specific type.

• involves the selection of jurors.

• refers to the location of a court.

Multiple Choice

Personal Jurisdiction

• determined solely by the location of the court.

• refers to the court's power over federal matters.

• the ability of a court to hear any case.

• the court's authority over a party based on their connections to the state or location.

Multiple Choice

Original Jurisdiction

• allows courts to enforce laws directly.

• the power to review lower court decisions.

• refers to appellate authority.

• the authority of a court to hear a case for the first time.

Multiple Choice

Appellate Jurisdiction

• The authority of a court to review decisions made by lower courts.
• The ability of a court to create new laws.
• The jurisdiction of a court to handle criminal cases.
• The power of a court to enforce laws directly.

Multiple Choice

Exclusive Jurisdiction

• allows multiple courts to hear a case simultaneously.

• refers to a court's ability to hear any case without limitations.

• the authority of a specific federal court to hear a case to the exclusion of state courts.

• the power of any court to decide on all legal matters.

Multiple Choice

Concurrent Jurisdiction

• prevents appeals in multiple courts.

• requires a single judge to preside.

• parties may choose which court will hear the case.

• limits cases to one court only.

Open Ended

Explain the Supreme Courts power of judicial review.

Reorder

Reorder the following

• A trial court hears the case, and a judge or jury decides.

• If a party believes the law was applied incorrectly or the law itself is unconstitutional, they can appeal to a court of appeals.

• A court of appeals reviews the legal questions. If the case raises important constitutional issues, a party may ask the Supreme Court to take the case.

• When it decides a case about constitutionality, its ruling affects the meaning of the Constitution and sets a precedent for lower courts to follow.

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