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Chapter 10: The JudicialBranch Civics

The Judicial Branch (Chapter 10)

Study Guide

Important Terms and Concepts

  • Appeal – to ask a higher court to review a decision
  • Defendant – a party who answers a complaint in court (accused)
  • Judge – person in charge of directing the courts proceedings
  • Original Jurisdiction – the right of a court to hear a case first
  • Plaintiff – an individual or group that brings a complaint against another party (accuser)
  • Prosecution – a government body that brings charges against a person accused of breaking the law (accuser)

Characteristics of the Federal Courts

Reason for Federal Court Jurisdiction (refer to chart on page 269)

  • Cases that raise constitutional questions
  • Cases involving federal laws
  • Cases involving American ships or planes
  • Cases where the US government is the defendant
  • Cases with a disagreement between two people from different states when more than $75,000 is in dispute

U.S. District Courts

  • Workhorses of the federal court system; they handle the most cases
  • In this trial court it is determined if people are guilty or not guilty
  • This court has a jury and witnesses

U.S. Court of Appeals

  • There are no juries or evidence examined. Instead lawyers argue their case in front of three judges that make a decision in regards to the case.
  • In this court it is determined if errs were made in the previous court or not because the court has appellate jurisdiction.
  • There are 12 U.S. Courts of Appeal throughout the United States. They are also referred to as Circuit Courts of Appeal.

Civil and Criminal Cases

Criminal Cases

  • Criminal courts determine whether a person accused of breaking a law is innocent or guilty.
  • Criminal cases are always brought to court by the prosecution or a government body
  • Criminal cases can involve such topics as (refer to pp. 537-538):

Name ______Perruso

Chapter 10: The JudicialBranch Civics

  • Murder
  • Manslaughter
  • Arson
  • Robbery
  • Terrorism
  • Assault
  • Battery
  • Embezzlement
  • Treason

Name ______Perruso

Chapter 10: The JudicialBranch Civics

Civil Cases

  • In a civil case the court settles disagreements between the two or more parties
  • Civil cases are brought to court by a plaintiff(s) or people that issue complaints against another party
  • Disagreements can be over such issues as:
  • Auto accidents
  • Broken contracts
  • Divorce
  • Violation of Constitutional Rights (freedom of speech, press, religion, etc.)

The U.S. Supreme Court

Important Concepts

  • Current Chief Justice: John Roberts
  • Justices are appointed for life and their decisions have far-reaching results throughout history
  • Supreme Court justices and all federal judges are appointed by the President with approval of the United States Senate
  • The Supreme Court Justices, and all federal judges, should not allow the wants/wishes of the President to affect their decisions on court cases
  • They are the final court of appeals
  • Final decisions are determined by majority vote of the justices

Supreme Court Cases from Jr. Scholastic Magazine

  • Fisher v. University of Texas – a young girl claimed she was discriminated from being admitted to the university because of her skin color.
  • Florida v. Jardines – a citizen claims a police dog was used illegally to sniff out marijuana in his home.