Judicial Branch Vocab

“Let the decision stand” or allowing prior rulings to determine the court’s stand on a current case.

• Stare decisis

• Litmus test

A brief submitted by a “friend of the court” to provide the court with additional information on a case.

• Writ of certiorari

• Amicus curiae brief

The party that initiates a lawsuit.

• Plaintiff

• Precedent

The power of the courts to declare laws unconstitutional

• Judicial Restraint

• Judicial Review

A signed opinion in which one or more members agree with the majority view, but for different reasons

• Concurring opinion

• Dissenting opinion

A legal rule stating who is authorized to start a lawsuit.

• Standing

• Rule of Four

The view that judges should apply the principles and provisions of the Constitution to modern circumstances

• Judicial Restraint

• Judicial Activism

The principle set by the court in one case that will be used as the basis for deciding future cases.

• Precedent

• Brief

Landmark Supreme Court case that established the court’s power of judicial review.

• Marbury v. Madison-

• McCulloch v. Maryland

-Federal courts that hear appeals from district courts. They review each case for possible errors

• Courts of Appeals

• District courts