Judicial Branch Vocabulary

Authority of both federal and state courts to hear and decide on cases.

• jurisdiction

• concurrent jurisdiction

• majority opinion

• stare decisis

The official power to make legal decisions and judgments.

• magistrate

• judicial review

• brief

• jurisdiction

Courts that can to review and change outcomes and decisions of lower courts

• jurisidiction

• district courts

• remand

• appellate courts

Court's calendar of cases

• precedent

• remand

• docket

• circuit

Statement that expresses the view of the majority of the Supreme Court Justices regarding a case.

• concurring opinion

• majority opinion

• dissenting opinion

• opinion

Written opinion by one or more judges of a court which agrees with the decision made by the majority of the court, but states different reasons as the basis for his or her decision.

• majority opinion

• concurring opinion

• exclusive jurisdiction

• brief

Federal Courts where trials are held and lawsuits begin.

• Supreme Court

• Circuit Court

• District Court

• The People's Court

Court systems in several common law jurisdictions that requires judges to travel to different locales to ensure wide visibility and understanding of cases in a region.

• Supreme Court

• Circuit Courts

• The People's Court

• District Courts

Power of the federal courts alone to hear certain cases.

• Jurisdiction

• Original Jurisdiction

• Concurring Opinion

• Exclusive Jurisdiction

Power to hear a case for the first time

• Original Jurisdiction

• Exclusive Jurisdiction

• Appellate Courts

• Judicial Review