Chapter 8: Supreme Court

Question	Answer
Supreme Court	Highest court in the federal system; 9 Justices
Courts of Appeal	12 regional "curicuit courts"; no original jurisdiction
District Courts	lowest level in the federal system; original jurisdiction over most cases; 94 judicial districts in 50 states
Article III	The constitution gives Congress power
The Judiciary Act of 1789	establishes the three-tiered structure
Marbury C. Madison (1803)	establishes the power of judicial review
Judicial Review	the power of the Supreme Court declare legislation invalid if the legislation violates the Constitution
ALL federal judges are appointed by the ____ and confirmed by majority vote in the _____.	president; Senate
Original Jurisdiction	authority of a court to hear a case for the first time
a writ of certiorari	an order from the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send the records to the Court
The Rule of Four	a case to be heard on appeal at least 4 of the 9 justices must agree to hear the case
Brief	A written detailed statement arguing one side of the case
Majority Opinion	known as "the opinion of the Court"; becomes the law of the land
Concurring Opinion	written by one of the Justices who voted with the majority for different reasons
Dissenting or Minority Opinion	expresses a point of view that disagrees with majority opinion

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