Supreme Court Vocabulary

a judge of an appeals court or court of last resort (as a supreme court)

• justice

• governor

• juror

• attorney

the highest federal court; decides whether laws follow the United States’ Constitution and has the power to undo the decisions of lower courts

• Supreme Court

• Supremacy Clause

• 2 houses of Congress

• People's Court

the part of the U.S. government that interprets laws; includes the Supreme Court and all federal courts

• judicial branch

• legislative branch

• executive branch

• veto

The power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional is known as what?

• Judicial Review

• Judicial Activism

• Judicial Restraint

• Judicial Precedent

Which term refers to the written explanation of the Supreme Court's decision in a case?

• Opinion

• Verdict

• Ruling

• Decree

What is the term for a Supreme Court order to a lower court to send up the records of a case for review?

• Writ of Certiorari

• Writ of Mandamus

• Writ of Habeas Corpus

• Writ of Prohibition

Who is the head of the Supreme Court?

• Chief Justice

• President

• Attorney General

• Speaker

What is the term for a previous court decision that influences future cases?

• Precedent

• Statute

• Ordinance

• Amendment

Which term describes a Supreme Court justice's agreement with the majority decision but for different reasons?

• Concurring Opinion

• Dissenting Opinion

• Majority Opinion

• Plurality Opinion

What is the term for a Supreme Court justice's disagreement with the majority decision?

• Dissenting Opinion

• Concurring Opinion

• Majority Opinion

• Plurality Opinion