Unit 7 – Judicial Branch
Study Guide
I.
Vocabulary
a. Know your vocabulary. There will not necessarily be a separate vocabulary section on the test but
all of the words are used on the test and you need to know them
In your binder:
II.
Judicial Branch Video Questions
a. What is the main role of the Judicial Branch?
b. The Supreme Court’s power to decide if laws are constitutional or not is called Judicial Review.
c. What is the length of term for a Supreme Court Justice?
d. Who nominates federal judges?
III.
The Federal Court System Pyramid Notes
a. Know the number of judges and if there is a jury at each of the 3 levels
b. Know the types of jurisdiction and what that type of jurisdiction means at each of the 3 levels
c. Be able to explain why there are more district courts than circuit courts and more circuit courts than
Supreme Courts
d. Know where the Judicial Branch gets it’s organization and jurisdiction from
e. Be able to explain the court system in an essay/short answer format
IV.
Federal Court Jurisdiction Worksheet
a. Know the 8 different types of cases the federal courts hear and be able to put real life examples of
cases into the categories they fall into (example, Constitution cases vs. Disputes between parties of
different states
V.
Guided Reading Worksheets 8.2 & 8.3
VI.
Judicial Review and Due Process Worksheet (11 court case summaries)
a. Be able to describe the precedent from Marbury vs. Madison, Plessy vs. Ferguson, Dennis vs.
United States, Brown vs. Board of Education, and Miranda vs. Arizona
VII.
Steps in Civil Case vs. Criminal Case
a. Know the steps of the types of cases and be able to explain the process of these cases in an
essay/short answer format
VIII.
Due Process Rights & Under 18 and in Jail
a. Know the 8 different due process rights, what due process of law is and the process for juvenile’s in
the court system.
b. Know the 2 most common types of juvenile cases
c. Know the purpose of the 5th and 14th amendment as they pertain to due process of law