APGoPo Unit 2: Week 5-6 Key Terms

1. The legal doctrine under which courts follow legal precedents when deciding cases with similar facts; means “let the decision stand”.

• Writ of certiorari

• Jurisdiction

• Stare decisis

• Strict constructionist

1. A trial court that has jurisdiction over certain cases within a specific judicial district.

• District Court

• Court of Appeals

• Supreme Court

• Congressional Court

1. Written explanation that announces the Court’s decision in a case and sets out the reasoning upon which it is based.

• Majority opinion

• Concurring opinion

• Dissenting opinion

• Court’s opinion

1. The power of the court to determine the constitutionality of a governmental action.

• Jurisdiction

• Precedent

• Judicial activism

• Judicial review

1. An approach to decision making in which judges play minimal decision making roles and defer to legislatures whenever possible by keeping a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

• 1. Judicial review

• Judicial restraint

• Judicial activism

• Loose (liberal) constructionist

1. An order issued by a higher court when it wants to review a lower court’s decision.

• Appellate jurisdiction

• Writ of certiorari

• Dissenting opinion

• Stare decisis

1. The authority to hear cases brought on appeal from a lower court.

• Original jurisdiction

• Precedent

• Appellate jurisdiction

• Judicial review

1. Someone who interprets the Constitution as a living document and takes into account changes and social conditions since ratification.

• 1. Loose (liberal) constructionist

• 1. Concurring opinion

• 1. Strict constructionist

• 1. Dissenting opinion

1. Written explanation of the views of one or more judges who support a decision reached by a majority of the court, but wish to add or emphasize a point that was not made in the majority decision.

• 1. Majority opinion

• 1. Concurring opinion

• 1. Dissenting opinion

• 1. Court’s opinion

1. The authority to hear a case for the first time.

• Original jurisdiction

• Precedent

• Appellate jurisdiction

• Judicial review