Key Legal Terms and US Government Concepts
Definitions:
- Jurisdiction: The authority to hear and decide a case.
- Exclusive Jurisdiction: The sole right to hear a case.
- Concurrent Jurisdiction: When both state and federal courts have the right to hear a case.
- Plaintiff: The person making a legal complaint.
- Defendant: The person against whom a legal complaint is filed.
- Grand Juries: Panel of citizens set up to hear evidence of a possible crime.
- Misdemeanor: A minor crime.
- Sovereign Immunity: Principle that a sovereign government cannot be taken to court unless it agrees to be sued.
- Public Opinion: The aggregation of views shared by a segment of society on issues of interest.
- Mass Media: Means of communication that provide information to a large audience.
- Civil Rights: Rights that involve equal status and treatment and the right to participate in government (e.g., the right to vote, the right to a good education).
- Prejudice: A negative opinion formed without grounds.
- Racism: Discrimination and unfair treatment based on race.
- Segregation: Separation of racial groups.
- Search Warrant: A document that gives police legal authority to search private property.
- Probable Cause: The reason for a search or an arrest.
- Exclusionary Rule: The rule that evidence obtained illegally may not be used against a person in a trial.
- Police Power: Government’s power to regulate behavior for the common good.
- Procedural Due Process: Requirement that the government follow certain procedures before punishing a person.
- Substantive Due Process: The idea that laws themselves must be fair and just since all people have inalienable rights that cannot be taken away from them.
Questions and Answers
Federal Court System Structure
It has three main levels: 1. US District Court, 2. Court of Appeals, and 3. Supreme Court.
Federal Judges Appointment
Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, and District Court judges are nominated by the President and confirmed by the Senate.
Judiciary Act of 1789
Article of the Constitution that established the Supreme Court and also proposed a three-tiered structure.
System of Checks and Balances
With checks and balances, each of the three branches of the government can limit the power of the other branches.
Public Opinion Formation
People’s opinions are influenced by several factors like friends, family, age, gender, and much more.
Media and Public Opinion
The media focuses more attention on important changes, and when officials ignore public opinion.
Public Opinion Measurement
Measured by public opinion polls.
Do Interest Groups Serve the Greater Good?
Yes, because they give the minority a voice in the political process.
Political Parties and Their Role
An organization that tries to elect its members to public office so that its views become public opinion. They play three roles: nominating candidates for political office, assisting the electoral process, and helping operate the government.
Two Main Ways of Achieving Citizenship
By birth in the USA or through naturalization.
Notable Supreme Court Cases
Fletcher v. Peck (property rights), LGBTQ workplace discrimination, Fisher v. Texas, United States v. Texas, Lisenba v. California (death penalty).