1. The Judicial Branch
And the Federal Courts

2. Jurisdiction
A court’s authority to hear and decide a case.

3. Exclusive Jurisdiction
The sole right to hear and decide a certain type of case, depending either on the subject matter of a case or the parties involved.

4. Concurrent Jurisdiction
Cases that fall under jurisdiction of both state and federal courts.

5. Plaintiff
The person making a legal complaint in court. (p. 221)

6. Defendant
The person against whom a complaint is filed.

7. Original jurisdiction
The authority of a court to be the first court to hold a hearing.

8. Appellate jurisdiction
The authority of some courts to review decisions made by lower courts.

9. Judicial restraint
The concept that a judge should interpret the Constitution based on the Framers’ original intentions.

10. Judicial activism
The concept that the Constitution should be interpreted more broadly, as an evolving document, something that subsequent generations can interpret consistent with changing values and circumstances.

11. Precedent
An earlier court decision that guides judges’ decisions in later cases.

12. Senatorial courtesy
The tradition that a senator from the same state as a nominee to a federal district court and the same political party as the president can block a nomination for virtually any reason.

13. Lower Federal Courts
Section 2

14. Grand juries
Panels of citizens set up to hear evidence of a possible crime and to recommend whether the evidence is sufficient to file criminal charges.

15. Bankruptcy
A legal process by which a person who cannot pay money they owe to others can receive court protection and assistance in settling their financial problems.

16. Magistrate judges
District court officials responsible for overseeing some of the early hearings of a criminal trial at which routine matters are carried out, and who may also hear misdemeanor criminal cases and certain civil cases.

17. Misdemeanor
A minor crime.

18. Public defenders
Lawyers appointed by the court to represent defendants in criminal trials who cannot afford to hire legal counsel.

19. Marshals
Law enforcement officers who provide security and police protection at federal courthouses, transport prisoners, help track down and arrest people accused of crimes, and provide protection to witnesses federal cases.

20. Appellant
A person who files an appeal.

21. Briefs
Written arguments filed by the parties in an appeal.

22. Sovereign immunity
The principle that a sovereign government cannot be taken to court unless it agrees to be sued.

23. Courts-martial
Hearings held for the trial of military personnel accused of violating military law.

24. The Supreme Court
Section 3

25. Writ of certiorari
An order by a higher court seeking a review of a lower court case.

26. Docket
The list of cases to be heard before a court.

27. Majority opinion
The Supreme Court’s ruling in a case that is signed by at least five of the nine members of the Court.

28. Concurring opinions
Statements by Supreme Court justices who agree with the overall conclusion in the case, but stress some different or additional legal reasoning.

29. Dissenting opinion
Statement written by Supreme Court justices who disagree with the majority’s decision; these opinions do not have a direct legal impact on the case, but they can influence future judgments.