Law and Court Vocabulary

The deciding vote. ________

• swing vote

• majority rule

• tie breaker

• final call

Coalition that promotes a common interest.

• bloc

• island

• trend

• solo

Authority shared by both federal and state courts.

• Concurrent jurisdiction

• Exclusive jurisdiction

• Original jurisdiction

• Appellate jurisdiction

The Court’s decision expressing the views of the majority of justices.

• Majority opinion

• Dissenting opinion

• Concurring opinion

• Per curiam opinion

A written statement setting for the legal arguments, relevant facts, and precedents supporting one side of a case.

• Brief

• Affidavit

• Summons

• Indictment

A person engaged in a lawsuit.

• litigant

• defendant

• witness

• bystander

The authority of a trial court to be first to hear a case.

• Original jurisdiction

• Appellate review

• Concurrent jurisdiction

• Judicial activism

A trial jury, usually consisting of 6 or 12 people, that weighs the evidence presented at a trial and renders a verdict.

• Petit jury

• Grand jury

• Hung jury

• Coroner's jury

A model on which to base later decisions or actions. ________

• Precedent

• Incident

• President

• Resident

The opinion expressed by a minority of justices in a Court case.

• Dissenting opinion

• Majority opinion

• Concurring opinion

• Unanimous opinion