NAME ______________________________________________________ PER _______
Study Guide: Chapter 18 – The Federal Court System
Directions: Read the assigned section and complete the study guide considering the impact/role of
government in all of your answers. The Vocabulary should be defined in YOUR OWN WORDs. The Main Ideas
should be explained with detail in YOUR OWN WORDs.
Section One: The National Judiciary
Vocabulary: --- describe the President’s role as each of the following:
1. Inferior courts
2. Jurisdiction
3. Exclusive jurisdiction
4. Concurrent jurisdiction
5. Plaintiff
6. Defendant
7. Original jurisdiction
8. Appellate jurisdiction
Main Ideas:
1. Where is the Judiciary established for the federal government?
2. What is a Dual Court System?
3. What are the two kinds of Federal Courts?
4. What is another name for the special courts? What role do they play?
5. What is jurisdiction?
6. Where is jurisdiction explained in the Constitution?
7. Which court(s) have original jurisdiction?
8. Which court(s) have appellate jurisdiction?
9. What is the appointment process for Federal Judges? Explain with detail.
10. What is judicial activism?
11. What is the term and pay for federal judges?
12. What role do U.S. Marshalls play?
Section Two: The Inferior Courts
Vocabulary/People:
1. Criminal Case
2. Civil Case
3. Docket
Main Ideas:
1. How many judges are at the District Court level?
2. What established the District Courts?
3. What is the jurisdiction of the District Courts?
4. Compare and contrast Criminal and Civil Cases in a Venn Diagram.
5. What is the next step after the District Court?
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6. What is the Circuit Court of Appeals?
7. How many judges sit on the Circuit Court?
8. Look up the number of Circuit Court Districts – how many total? Which Circuit Court includes CA?
9. What is the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court of Appeals?
10. What is the purpose of the Court of International Trade?
11. What is the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit?
Section Three: The Supreme Court
Vocabulary:
1. Writ of Certiorari
2. Certificate
3. Majority Opinion
4. Precedent
5. Concurring Opinion
6. Dissenting Opinion
Main Ideas:
1. What is Judicial Review? Which case established it?
2. Explain the Main Ideas of Marbury v Madison.
3. What are the long term effects of Marbury v Madison?
4. Where is Supreme Court jurisdiction explained?
5. What is the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?
6. How do cases reach the Supreme Court?
7. What is an Oral Argument?
8. What is a Brief?
9. What does it mean when the Court is in Conference?
10. Who is the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court TODAY – your book is outdated!
11. Who are the 8 Associate Justices on the Supreme Court TODAY – your book is outdated!
Section Four: The Special Courts
Vocabulary:
1. Redress
2. Courts-martial
3. Civilian tribunal
Main Ideas:
1. Explain the role of the Court of Federal Claims.
2. What are territorial courts?
3. What are the D.C. Courts?
4. What is the purpose of the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces?
5. What are Military Commissions?
6. What is the purpose of Court of Appeals for Veterans Courts?
7. What is the U.S. Tax Court?
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