American Government

Vocabulary

Mr. Vega Chapter 7, The Judicial Branch

Directions: Choose 15 terms or names from the list below to define the left-hand column. In the
right-hand column, find a real world example of your term in use from some point throughout
history. For people, fin example of something significant that they did.
Inferior Courts Jurisdiction Concurrent Jurisdiction Plaintiff Defendant

Original Jurisdiction Appellate Jurisdiction Judicial Restraint Precedent Judicial Activism

Term Definition (your own words) Real World
Judicial Review Writ of Certiorari Certificate Brief Connection/Example
Majority Opinion
1
Concurring Opinion
Inferior courtsDissenting Opinions Criminalstep
Lower courts/first Casein legal process Civil Case Docket

Record Courts-Martial Civilian Tribunal Redress

2
Original jurisdiction Court hearing a case for the first time

3
Judicial review Process which the courts review

4
Concurring opinion Written opinion by judge who agrees with
outcome of the case

5
Jurisdiction Courts authority to hear and decide a case

6
Appellate jurisdiction Courts authority to review and potentially
overturn decisions made by lower courts

7
Dissenting opinions Judge disagrees with outcome of a court case

8
Record Writing of things that happened in court

9
Courts-martial Tries members of the armed forces for
violations of law

10
Judicial restraint Judges should interpret the law, and should
not make decisions on the spot

11
Criminal case A person is accused of committing a crime
12
Civilian tribunal Civilian judges that try cases

13
Majority opinion Decision of the court in which more judges
agree on the outcome

14 Precedent
Used as a guide

15 Civil case
Legal dispute between two or more
people/companies